
Class. 
Book. 



1.^ 



THE ENGLISH POEMS OF HENRY KING 




Portrait of Bishop Henry King 

Painted in February or March, 1642, and now Hanging 

IN THE OLD Lecture Room, Christ Church, 

Oxford. Artist Unknown 



(From a photograph taken for this edition by the Clarendon Press, Oxford) 



THE ENGLISH POEMS 

OF 

HENRY KING, D.D 

1592-1669 
SOMETIME BISHOP OF CHICHESTER 



NOW FIRST COLLECTED FROM VARIOUS 
SOURCES AND EDITED BY 

LAWRENCE MASON, Ph.D. 




NEW HAVEN: YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS 

LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD 

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 

MDCCCCXIV 



-f^-^^^^ 
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Copyright, 1914 
BY Yale University Press 



Printed from type December, 1914, 500 copies 



liEC 26 i9l4 


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TO 

A. M. C. S. 



PREFACE 

This work aims to present a complete edition of 
Bishop Henry King's English poems. 

The editio princeps of the poems, a modest and exceed- 
ingly rare little octavo, is dated 1657; but the unsold 
copies of that printing were re-issued in 1664 and again 
in 1700, with a new title-page upon each occasion, and 
to those copies bearing the earlier date were affixed 
thirty-eight additional pages of Elegies. After 1700 no 
edition appeared until 1843, when the Rev. J. Hannah 
republished more than half of King's poetry in an 
elaborately annotated form which has long been out of 
print. 

The present edition includes the twenty-nine poems 
omitted by Hannah as well as the fifty selected by him, 
and in addition another considerable elegy that has not 
been reprinted since 1649; while four of King's hitherto 
uncollected poems or parts of poems are here for the first 
time printed, from various MSS., together with five other 
pieces whereof his authorship cannot be so definitely 
proved, but of which four are almost certainly his work. 
Hannah printed a somewhat inaccurate reading of his 
text, and also thought it best "to revise the punctuation," 
often unnecessarily and not seldom quite unhappily; the 
present edition offers an exact reproduction of the 
editio princeps except for the numbering of the lines and 
the natural differences in fonts of type, with a faithful 

[vii] 



PREFACE 

transcript of the new material hitherto uncollected. The 
Notes at the end of this volume have been reduced to the 
smallest compass consistent with the elucidation of all 
real difficulties presented by the text; and variant read- 
ings resulting from the collation of numerous MSS. or 
early printed versions of the poems have been recorded 
only where the meaning of the line is materially affected. 

It has seemed best to include in this edition no excerpts 
from Henry King's version of the Psalms in metre, 
published in 1651, because that work possesses little merit 
or interest, to modern eyes, and may well be left for the 
specialist to consult intact. Selections from that work, 
however, as well as an exhaustive biography and bibli- 
ography, a critical essay, much related material, and a 
full apparatus criticus will be found in a Thesis by the 
present writer deposited in the Yale University Library, 
New Haven, Conn. Of this Thesis the Biography and 
Bibliography have been printed in full among the Trans- 
actions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, 
Vol. XYllU 

It now remains only to acknowledge my indebtedness 
for assistance received in preparing this work. Professor 
Edward Bliss Reed suggested the subject to me, and has 
advised and guided me throughout. Hannah's scholarly 
edition has been an invaluable help. My thanks are also 
due to the Very Reverend the Dean and the Chapter of 
Christ Church, Oxford; the authorities of the Bodleian, 
British Museum, and Lambeth Palace Libraries ; Professor 

1 Cf. Bibliographical Note, pp. 187-9, inf. 

[ viii ] 



PREFACE 



C. W. Mendell, of Yale College; Miss E. G. Parker, 
of Chalfont Road, Oxford ; Dr. and Mrs. E. C. Streeter, 
of Boston, Mass., and Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Chase, of 
Waterbury, Conn. 

L. M. 
Yale College, New Haven, Conn. 
July 10, 1914. 



[ix] 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Frontispiece: Portrait of Bishop Henry King 

Preface ........ v 

Table of Contents . . . . . . ix 

Introduction ....... 1 

Facsimile of the title-page in the 1664 issue of the 

Editio Princeps ...... 7 

The Preface of the Editio Princeps: "The Publishers 

to the Author" 9 



Poems 

The Double Rock .... 
The Vow-Breaker .... 
Upon a Table-Book presented to a Lady 



To the same Lady upon Mr. Burtons Melancholy 15 



The Farewell ... 

A Black-moor Maid wooing a fair Boy 

The Boyes answer to the Blackmoor . 

To a Friend upon Overbury's wife given to her 

Upon the same ..... 

To A. R. upon the same .... 

An Epitaph on Niobe turned to Stone 

Upon a Braid of Hair in a Heart sent by Mrs 

E. H 

Sonnet: "Tell me no more how fair she is" . 

Sonnet: "Were thy heart soft" . 

Sonnet: "Go thou that vainly" . 

Sonnet. To Patience .... 

[xi] 



13 
13 
14 



15 
16 
17 
17 
18 
18 
18 

18 
19 
19 
20 
20 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Silence. A Sonnet 

Loves Harvest 

The Forlorn Hope 

The Retreat 

Sonnet: "Tell me you stars" 

Sonnet: "I Prethee turn that face away" 

Sonnet: "Dry those fair, those chrystal eyes 

Sonnet: "When I entreat" 

To a Lady who sent me a copy of verses 

The Pink 

To his Friends of Christ-Church upon the mislike 

of the Marriage of the Arts acted at Woodstock 
The Surrender 
The Legacy . 
The Short Wooing 
St. Valentines day . 
To his unconstant Friend 
Madam Gabrina, Or the Ill-favourd Choice 
The Defence ..... 

To One demanding why Wine sparkles 
By occasion of the Young Prince his happy birth 
Upon the Kings happy return from Scotland 
To the Queen at Oxford 
A salutation of his Majesties Ship the Soveraign 
An Epitaph On his most honoured Friend Richard 

Earl of Dorset ...... 

The Exequy ...... 

The Anniverse. An Elegy . . . . 

On two Children dying of one Disease, and buried 

in one Grave ...... 



21 

22 
23 
23 
24 

25 
25 
26 
26 

27 

28 
29 
31 

33 
34 
35 
38 
40 
41 
42 
45 
47 
49 

50 
51 
55 

57 



[xli] 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



A Letter 57 

An Acknowledgment . . . . .60 

The Acquittance . . . . • .62 

The Forfeiture 63 

The Departure. An Elegy . . • .64 

Paradox 66 

Paradox ....... 69 

The Change 73 

To my Sister Anne King, who chid me in verse for 

being angry . . . • • .74 

An Elegy Upon the immature loss of the most 

vertuous Lady Anne Rich . . . .75 

An Elegy Upon Mrs. Kirk unfortunately drowned 

in Thames . • • • • .78 

An Elegy Upon the death of Mr. Edward Holt . 80 
To my dead friend Ben: Johnson . . .81 

An Elegy Upon Prince Henry's death . . 83 

An Elegy Upon S. W. R 84 

An Elegy Upon the L. Bishop of London John 

King ....••• 

Upon the death of my ever desired friend Doctor 

Donne Dean of Pauls . . . • .86 

An Elegy Upon the most victorious King of 

Sweden Gustavus Adolphus . . • .89 

To my Noble and Judicious Friend Sir Henry 

Blount upon his Voyage . . . .94 

To my honoured Friend Mr. George Scandys . 99 

The Woes of Esay 103 

An Essay on Death and a Prison . . .108 

[ xiii ] 



85 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



The Labyrinth . , . . . .111 

Being waked out of my sleep by a snuff of Candle 

which offended me, I thus thought . . .112 

Sic Vita 113 

My Midnight Meditation . . . .114 

A Penitential Hymne . . . . .114 

An Elegy Occasioned by sickness . . .115 

The Dirge 119 

An Elegy Occasioned by the losse of the most 

incomparable Lady Stanhope . . .121 

An Elegy Upon my Best Friend L. K. C. . . 123 

On the Earl of Essex ..... 125 
An Elegy on Sir Charls Lucas, and Sir George 

Lisle ....... 126 

An Elegy upon the most Incomparable King 

Charls the First . . . . .137 

Engraving of photostat of pp. 34, 35 in Henry 
King's Anniversary Sermon, Jan. 30, 1665, to 
face page . . . . . . .152 

Facsimile of the colophon in the Editio Princeps . 156 
A Deepe Groane, fetched At the Funerall of that 
incomparable and Glorious Monarch, Charles 
the First 157 

Epigrams ....... 168 

Additional Poems hitherto Unprinted . . .171 
Upon y^ untimely death of J. K, first borne of 
HK 173 



[xiv] 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



To one that demaunded why the wine sparkles . 174 
To a Lady that sent mee a Coppy of Verses . 174 
Epigram 174 

Doubtful Poems 175 

A Contemplation upon Flowers . . * .177 

The Complaint 178 

On his Shaddow 179 

Wishes to my sonne John, for this new, and all 

succeeding years . . . . .181 

[In obitum sanctissimi viri Di. Dris. Spenseri~\ . 183 

Bibliographical Note 187 

Notes 191 



[xv] 



INTRODUCTION 

Henry King's armorial bearings illustrate the family 
claim to descent from the ancient Saxon monarchs of 
Devonshire. At all events, his ancestors in the sixteenth 
century were very distinguished men, and his father, John 
King (1559?-1621), was an eminent prelate highly 
esteemed by Elizabeth and James, Bishop of London for 
the last ten years of his life, and historically memorable 
for his prosecution of the last Smithfield martyr. Henry 
King himself, the eldest son of Bishop John, "was born 
in the same house and chamber at Wornal, in Bucks, 
wherein his father had received his first breath, in the 
month of January,"^ 1592. Educated at Westminster 
School and at Christ Church, Oxford, he followed in his 
father's footsteps, and became successively chaplain to 
James and Charles, archdeacon of Colchester, canon of 
Christ Church, dean of Rochester, and finally, on February 
6, 1642, Bishop of Chichester. Meanwhile, he had 
married Anne Berkeley, granddaughter of Sir Maurice 
Berkeley, of Throwley, in Kent, about 1617-1618, who 
died about 1624 after having borne him five sons and a 
daughter, two only of whom, John and Henry, appear 
to have long survived her. It is possible that he married 
again, about 1631, but the evidence is not conclusive. He 
remained in enjoyment of his bishopric less than eleven 
months, for with the outbreak of the civil war he was 

1 Wood's "Athenae Oxonienses," ed. Bliss, 1815, III, 839. 

[1] 



INTRODUCTION 



dispossessed by the Parliamentarians and all his property 
sequestrated. From 1643 to 1647 he lived in retirement 
at Albury, Surrey, probably with his cousins, the Dun- 
combes, but in 1647 was apparently compelled to leave 
that neighborhood on account of an indiscretion on the 
part of his son John, and accordingly moved north to 
his late brother John's establishment at Blakesware, In 
southeastern Hertfordshire, near his friend Sir John 
Mounson's manor at Broxbourne. He was at Langley, 
Bucks, In 1651 ; and in 1657 at Hitcham, also in Bucks — 
driven from place to place by Parliamentarian persecu- 
tion, apparently, and supported by the charity of friends 
and relatives. During the interregnum he figured promi- 
nently in the various efforts made to preserve the threat- 
ened Apostolic succession. In 1660 he was restored to 
his see and lived there, "the epitome of all honours, vir- 
tues, and generous nobleness,"^ until his death, September 
30, 1669. 

There Is little In the career or historical position of 
Bishop Henry King to call for extended notice today; 
he becomes important only on account of his poetical 
work, which claims the attention of readers in general, 
as well as of professed students of literature, on perhaps 
three chief grounds: much of It is well worth reading 
and remembering for its own sake. It strikingly illustrates 
the transition from Elizabethan to Queen Anne literature, 
and lastly it is admirably typical of the work of a large 
number of little-known but Interesting authors, the minor 



1 Quoted by Wood, op. cit.. Ill, 841. 
[2] 



INTRODUCTION 



poets of the forty years from the death of Shakespeare to 
the appearance of Dryden's first considerable poem. 

Many of the graceful trifles on pages 19, 20, 25, 26, 
178-180, etc., will commend themselves as very accept- 
able in their l^ind, w^hile "The Surrender," "The Legacy," 
"The Woes of Esay," and most of his elegies possess 
more solid merits. His earlier work is often deft and 
sprightly, while his more mature compositions show some 
real power in thought and style, together with flashes of 
the true poetic fervor ; but his serious claim to recognition 
as a lyric poet rests on three achievements which few poets 
need blush to own. "A Contemplation upon Flowers," 
of which King's authorship is somewhat uncertain, has a 
meditative sweetness and charm not unworthy of Herbert 
or Vaughan at little short of their best. "The Exequy, 
to his Matchless never-to-be-forgotten Friend," with its 
poignant use of heartfelt apostrophe and pathetic repeti- 
tion, is one of the most beautiful and moving personal 
elegies of the century. "Tell me no more how fair she is," 
perhaps his masterpiece, is a well-nigh flawless little 
Cavalier gem — not the equal, naturally, of the best of 
Herrick, Carew, Lovelace, but direct, musical, and distin- 
guished by a sustained neatness of thought and execution. 

King's poetry clearly illustrates the transition from 
Elizabeth to Anne, for it breaks with the past by rejecting 
Spenserianism, reflects the present by imitating Jonson 
and Donne,^ and anticipates the future by tending 

1 They were the gods of Henry King's idolatry; cf. his 
discipular elegies, pp. 81 and 86, inf. 



[3] 



INTRODUCTION 



Strongly towards the Waller-Denham-Dryden manner 
which culminated in the Augustan Age and Pope. The 
"heroic couplet" is generally recognized as the sign- 
manual of the eighteenth century, and Henry King, in 
his increasingly frequent employment of the form, steadily 
advances towards the "balance, antithesis, epigrammatic 
wit, rhetorical emphasis," and rare enjambement of Pope's 
polished distich. But while he exhibits a weighty terse- 
ness or pregnant phrasing that is almost Shakespearean,^ 
occasionally, and an absurd artificiality or practiced 
elegance that is almost worthy of Pope,^ occasionally, 
still the bulk of his work is distinctly of the transition, 
transitional: he is the seventeenth century mean between 
the sixteenth and eighteenth century extremes. 

Major poets, such as Milton or even Butler, are apt 
to be unique, rather exceptions to the rule than illustra- 
tions of it, while minor poets really are the rule. This 
is particularly true in an unsettled and many-sided period 
of transition, such as most of the seventeenth century. 
Henry King, not great enough to be above his age or in 
advance of it, but so distinctly in it and of it as to have 
felt almost all its varied tendencies and influences, serves 
admirably as the unum pro multis caput in considering 
the voluminous mass of neglected and often negligible 
work which nevertheless really constitutes the literary 
output of the time. For, like practically all these minor 
writers, he had a profession or career as his real interest 

1 Cf. p. 31, 14-16, 19-24, inf. 

2Cf. pp. 34, 1-4; 111, 13-18; 112, 27-32, 41, 42, inf. 



[4] 



INTRODUCTION 



In life, and was a poet only by avocation ; he paid little or 
no attention to the publication^ of his poetical productions ; 
and he tried his hand at many different kinds of verse, 
under many different inspirations, viz., Cavalier lyrics, 
personal effusions (including commendatory epistles in 
verse), elegies, political outpourings, moral and religious 
compositions, a metrical version of the Psalms, epigrams, 
paradoxes, translations, and Latin and Greek verse. And, 
needless to say, he shares the faults as well as the virtues 
of his fellows. He is thus thoroughly representative of 
these Innumerable nameless minor choristers, as any 
examination of their scarce little printed volumes or of 
the many MS. collections In the Bodleian and British 
Museum clearly shows; and since these seventeenth 
century minors are being republished In Increasing num- 
bers nowadays, through the efforts of Dr. Grosart, Mr. 
A. H. Bullen, and others, so typical an exemplar of his 
class should certainly be rendered accessible to readers. 

In general, no extravagant claims can be made for 
Henry King's poetry. His biography shows him to have 
been not at all extraordinary in character or gifts, and his 
works naturally rise no higher than their source. Never- 
theless, some single poems or detached passages will 
always arouse admiration and give pleasure, while the 
literary tendencies illustrated by his work invest his 
poetry with an Importance and Interest that cannot be 
denied and should no longer be ignored. 

iCf. "The Publishers to the Author," pp. 9-11, inf. 



[5] 





POEMS, 

E L E G I E S, g 

m PARADOXES, '* 



Aiid 
SONETS* 



m 
m 



LONDOKty 






for He^rj Herringmm ^ aiKi|^^ 

are to be foIdatthe^^jrWmthe -^^^ 
lower-walk in the "Ns-W Ex-* ^^ ^ 




THE ORIGINAL PREFACE 
IN THE EDITIO PRINCEPS OF KING'S POEMS 

THE PUBLISHERS TO THE AUTHOR 

Sir, 

It Is the common fashion to make some 
address to the Readers, but we are bold 
to direct ours to you, who will look on 
this publication with Anger which 
others must welcom into the world with 
Joy. 

The Lord Verulam comparing inge- 
nious Authors to those who had Or- 
chards ill neighboured, advised them to 
publish their own labours, lest others 
might steal the fruit: Had you fol- 
lowed his example, or liked the advice, 
we had not thus trespassed against your 
consent, or been forced to an Apology, 
which cannot but imply a fault com- 
mitted. The best we can say for our 
selves Is, that if we have injured you it 
is meerly in your own defence, prevent- 
ing the present attempts of others, who 
to their theft would (by their false 
copies of these Poems) have added vio- 

[9] 



THE ORIGINAL PREFACE 



lence, and some way have wounded your 
reputation. 

Having been long engaged on better 
contemplations, you may perhaps look 
down on these Juvenilia (most of them 
the issues of your youthful Muse) with 
some disdain; and yet the Courteous 
Reader may tell you with thanks, that 
they are not to be despised, being far 
from Abortive, nor to be disowned, 
because they are both Modest and 
Legitimate. And thus if we have offered 
you a view of your younger face, our 
hope is you will behold it with an un- 
wrinkled brow, though we have pre- 
sented the Mirrour against your will. 

We confess our design hath been set 
forward by friends that honour you, 
who lest the ill publishing might dis- 
figure these things from whence you 
never expected addition to your credit 
(sundry times endeavoured and by them 
defeated) furnished us with some 
papers which they thought Authentick; 
we may not turn their favour into an 
accusation, and therefore give no inti- 
mation of their names, but wholly take 
the blame of this hasty and immethodi- 
cal impression upon our selves, being 
persons at a distance, who are fitter to 

[10] 



THE ORIGINAL PREFACE 



bear it then those who are neerer re- 
lated. In hope of your pardon we 
remain 

Your most devoted servants, 

Rich: Harriot . 
Hen: Herringman. 



[11] 



SONNET. 

The Double Rock. 

Since thou hast view'd some Gorgon, and art grown 

A solid stone: 
To bring again to softness thy hard heart 

Is past my art. 
Ice may relent to water in a thaw ; 5 

But stone made flesh Loves Chymistry ne're saw. 

Therefore by thinking on thy hardness, I 

Will petrify; 
And so within our double Quarryes Wombe, 

Dig our Loves Tombe. 10 

Thus strangely will our difference agree ; 
And, with our selves, amaze the world, to see 
How both Revenge and Sympathy consent 
To make two Rocks each others Monument. 

The Vow-Breaker. 

When first the Magick of thine ey, 

Usurpt upon my liberty, 

Triumphing in my hearts spoyl, thou 

Didst lock up thine in such a vow ; 

When I prove false, may the bright day 5 

Be govern d by the Moons pale ray! 

(As I too well remember) This 

Thou said'st, and seald'st it with a kiss. 

[13] 



POEMS 



O Heavens ! and could so soon that Ty 
Relent in slack Apostacy? 10 

Could all thy Oaths, and morgag'd trust, 
Vanish ? like letters form'd in dust 
Which the next wind scatters. Take heed, 
Take heed Revolter ; know this deed 
Hath wrong'd the world, which will fare worse 15 
By thy Example then thy Curse. 

Hide that false Brow in mists. Thy shame 
Ne're see light more, but the dimme flame 
Of funeral Lamps. Thus sit and moane, 
And learn to keep thy guilt at home. 20 

Give it no vent ; for if agen 
Thy Love or Vowes betray more men, 
At length (I fear) thy perjur'd breath 
Will blow out day, and waken Death. 



Upon a Table-Book presented to a Lady, 

When your fair hand receives this little book 
You must not there for prose or verses look. 
Those empty regions which within you see. 
May by your self planted and peopled be : 
And though we scarce allow your sex to prove 
Writers (unless the Argument be Love) ; 
Yet without crime or envy you have roome 
Here, both the Scribe and Author to become. 

[14] 



THE FAREWELL 



To the same Lady upon Mr. Burtons Melancholy. 

If In this Glass of Humours you do find 

The Passions or diseases of your mind, 

Here without pain, you safely may endure, 

Though not to suffer, yet to read your cure. 

But if you nothing meet you can apply, 5 

Then ere you need, you have a remedy. 

And I do wish you never may have cause 
To be adjudg'd by these fantastick Laws; 
But that this books example may be known, 
By others Melancholy, not your own. 10 



THE FAREWELL. 

Splendidis longum valedico nugis. 

Farewell fond Love, under whose childish whip, 

I have serv'd out a weary Prentiship; 

Thou that hast made me thy scorn'd property, 

To dote on Rocks, but yielding Loves to fly: 

Go bane of my dear quiet and content, 5 

Now practise on some other Patient. 

Farewell false Hope that fann'd my warm desire 
Till it had rais'd a wild unruly fire. 
Which nor sighs cool, nor tears extinguish can, 
Although my eyes out-flow'd the Ocean: 10 

Forth of my thoughts for ever. Thing of Air, 
Begun in errour, finish't in despair. 

[15] 



POEMS 



Farewell vain World, upon whose restless stage 
Twixt Love and Hope I have f oold out my age ; 
Henceforth ere sue to thee for my redress, 15 

He wooe the wind, or court the wilderness ; 
And buried from the dayes discovery, 
Study a slow yet certain way to dy. 

My woful Monument shall be a Cell, 

The murmur of the purling brook my knell ; 20. 

My lasting Epitaph the Rock shall grone : 

Thus when sad Lovers ask the weeping stone, 

What wretched thing does in that Center lie ? 

The hollow Eccho will reply, 'twas L 

A Black-moor Maid wooing a fair Boy: 
sent to the Author by Mr. Hen. Rainolds. 

Stay lovely Boy, why fly'st thou mee 

That languish in these flames for thee? 

I'm black 'tis true: why so is Night, 

And Love doth in dark Shades delight. 

The whole World, do but close thine eye, 5 

Will seem to thee as black as I; 

Or op't, and see what a black shade 

Is by thine own fair body made. 

That follows thee where e're thou go; 

(O who allow'd would not do so?) 10 

Let me for ever dwell so nigh. 
And thou shalt need no other shade than I. 

Mr. Hen. Rainolds. 

[16] 



THE BOYES ANSWER TO THE BLACKMOOR 



The Boyes answer to the Blackmoor, 

Black Maid, complain not that I fly, 

When Fate commands Antipathy: 

Prodigious might that union prove, 

Where Night and Day together move, 

And the conjunction of our lips 5 

Not kisses make, but an Eclipse; 

In which the mixed black and white 

Portends more terrour than delight. 

Yet if my shadow thou wilt be. 

Enjoy thy dearest wish: But see 10 

Thou take my shadowes property, 

That hastes away when I come nigh : 

Else stay till death hath blinded mee, 
And then I will bequeath my self to thee. 



To a Friend upon Overbury's wife given to her. 

I know no fitter subject for your view 

Then this, a meditation ripe for you. 

As you for it. Which when you read you'l see 

What kind of wife your self will one day bee : 

Which happy day be neer you, and may this 5 

Remain with you as earnest of my wish ; 

When you so far love any, that you dare 

Venture j^our whole affection on his care, 

May he for whom you change your Virgin-life 

Prove good to you, and perfect as this Wife. 10 

[17] 



POEMS 



Upon the same. 

Madam, who understands you well would swear, 
That you the Life, and this your Copie were. 

To A. R. upon the same. 

Not that I would instruct or tutor you 
What is a Wifes behest, or Husbands due, 
Give I this Widdow-Wife. Your early date 
Of knowledge makes such Precepts slow and late. 
This book is but your glass, where you shall see 5 

What your self are, what other Wives should bee. 

An Epitaph on Niobe turned to Stone. 

This Pile thou seest built out of Flesh, not Stone, 
Contains no shroud within, nor mouldring bone; 

This bloodless Trunk is destitute of Tombe 
Which may the Soul-fled Mansion enwombe. 

This seeming Sepulchre (to tell the troth) 5 

Is neither Tomb nor Body, and yet both. 

Upon a Braid of Hair in a Heart sent by Mrs. E. H. 

In this small Character is sent 

My Loves eternal Monument. 

Whil'st we shall live, know, this chain'd Heart 

Is our affections counter-part. 

And if we never meet, think I 5 

Bequeath'd it as my Legacy. 

[18] 



SONNET 



SONNET. 

Tell me no more how fair she is, 

I have no minde to hear 
The story of that distant bliss 

I never shall come near: 
By sad experience I have found 5 

That her perfection is my wound. 

And tell me not how fond I am 

To tempt a daring Fate, 
From whence no triumph ever came, 

But to repent too late : 10 

There is some hope ere long I may 
In silence dote my self away. 

I ask no pity (Love) from thee, 

Nor will thy justice blame, 
So that thou wilt not envy mee 15 

The glory of my flame: 
Which crowns my heart when ere it dyes, 
In that it falls her sacrifice. 

SONNET. 

Were thy heart soft as thou art faire. 

Thou wer't a wonder past compare : 

But frozen Love and fierce disdain 

By their extremes thy graces stain. 

Cold coyness quenches the still fires 5 

Which glow in Lovers warm desires ; 

[19] 



POEMS 



And scorn, like the quick Lightnings blaze, 

Darts death against affections gaze. 
O Heavens, what prodigy is this 
When Love in Beauty buried is! 10 

Or that dead pity thus should be 
Tomb'd in a living cruelty. 

SONNET. 

Go thou that vainly do'st mine eyes invite 

To taste the softer comforts of the night, 

And bid'st me cool the feaver of my brain, 

In those sweet balmy dewes which slumber pain; 

Enjoy thine own peace in untroubled sleep, 5 

Whil'st my sad thoughts eternal vigils keep. 

O could'st thou for a time change breasts with me, 
Thou in that broken Glass shouldst plainly see, 
A heart which wastes in the slow smothring fire 
Blown by despair, and fed by false desire, 10 

Can onely reap such sleeps as Sea-men have. 
When fierce winds rock them on the foaming wave. 

SONNET. 
To Patience. 

Down stormy passions, down; no more 
Let your rude waves invade the shore 
Where blushing reason sits and hides 
Her from the fury of your tides. 

[20] 



SILENCE— A SONNET 



Fit onely 'tis where you bear sway 5 

That Fools or Franticks do obey; 
Since judgment, if it not resists, 
Will lose it self in your blind mists. 

Fall easie Patience, fall like rest 

Whose soft spells charm a troubled breast: 10 

And where those Rebels you espy, 

O in your silken cordage tie 

Their malice up ! so shall I raise 

Altars to thank your power, and praise 

The soveraign vertue of your Balm, 15 

Which cures a Tempest by a Calm. 

Silence. 

A SONNET, 

Peace my hearts blab, be ever dumb, 

Sorrowes speak loud without a tongue: 

And my perplexed thoughts forbear 

To breath your selves in any ear: 

Tis scarce a true or manly grief 5 

Which gaddes abroad to find relief. 

Was ever stomack that lackt meat 

Nourisht by what another eat? 

Can I bestow it, or will woe 

Forsake me when I bid it goe? 10 

Then He believe a wounded breast 
May heal by shrift, and purchase rest. 

[21] 



POEMS 



But if imparting it I do 

Not ease my self, but trouble two, 

'Tis better I alone possess 15 

My treasure of unhappiness: 

Engrossing that which is my own 

No longer then it is unknown. 

If silence be a kind of death, 

He kindles grief who gives it breath ; 20 

But let it rak't in embers lye. 

On thine own hearth 'twill quickly dye; 
And spight of fate, that very wombe 
Which carries it, shall prove its tombe. 



Loves Harvest. 

Fond Lunatick forbear, why do'st thou sue 
For thy affections pay e're it is due ? 
Loves fruits are legal use ; and therefore may 
Be onely taken on the marriage day. 

Who for this interest too early call, 5 

By that exaction lose the Principall. 

Then gather not those immature delights, 

Untill their riper Autumn thee invites. 

He that abortive Corn cuts off his ground. 

No Husband but a Ravisher is found : 10 

So those that reap their love before they wed, 
Do in effect but Cuckold their own Bed. 

[22] 



THE FORLORN HOPE 



The Forlorn Hope. 

How long vain Hope do'st thou my joys suspend? 

Say ! must my expectation know no end ! 

Thou wast more kind unto the wandring Greek 

Who did ten years his Wife and Country seek: 

Ten lazy Winters in my glass are run, 5 

Yet my thoughts travail seems but new begun. 

Smooth Quick-sand which the easy World beguiles, 
Thou shalt not bury me in thy false smiles. 
They that in hunting shadowes pleasure take 
May benefit of thy illusion make. 10 

Since thou hast banisht me from my content 
I here pronounce thy finall banishment. 

Farewell thou dream of nothing ! thou meer voice ! 
Get thee to fooles that can feed fat with noise : 
Bid wretches markt for death look for reprieve, 15 

Or men broke on the wheel perswade to live. 
Henceforth my comfort and best Hope shall be, 
By scorning Hope, nere to rely on thee. 



The Retreat. 

Pursue no more (my thoughts!) that false unkind, 
You may assoon imprison the North-wind ; 
Or catch the Lightning as it leaps ; or reach 
The leading billow first ran down the breach ; 

[23] 



POEMS 



Or undertake the flying clouds to track 5 

In the same path they yesterday did rack. 

Then, like a Torch turn'd downward, let the same 
Desire which nourisht it, put out your flame. 

Loe thus I doe divorce thee from my brest, 

False to thy vow, and traitour to my rest ! 10 

Henceforth thy tears shall be (though thou repent) 

Like pardons after execution sent. 

Nor shalt thou ever my loves story read, 

But as some Epitaph of what is dead. 

So may my hope on future blessings dwell, 15 

As 'tis my firm resolve and last farewell. 



SONNET. 

Tell me you stars that our affections move. 
Why made ye me that cruell one to love ? 
Why burnes my heart her scorned sacrifice, 
Whose breast is hard as Chrystall, cold as Ice? 

God of Desire ! if all thy Votaries 5 

Thou thus repay, succession will grow wise; 
No sighs for incense at thy Shrine shall smoke, 
Thy Rites will be despis'd, thy Altars broke. 

O ! or give her my flame to melt that snow 
Which yet unthaw'd does on her bosome grow; 10 
Or make me ice, and with her chrystall chaines 
Binde up all love within my frozen veines. 

[24] 



SONNET 



SONNET, 

I Prethee turn that face away 
Whose splendour but benights my day. 
Sad eyes like mine, and wounded hearts 
Shun the bright rayes which beauty darts. 

Unwelcome is the Sun that pries 5 

Into those shades where sorrow lies. 

Go shine on happy things. To me 

That blessing is a miserie : 

Whom thy fierce Sun not warmes, but burnes, 

Like that the sooty Indian turnes. 10 

He serve the night, and there confin'd 
Wish thee less fair, or else more kind. 

SONNET, 

Dry those fair, those chrystal eyes 
Which like growing fountains rise 
To drown their banks. Griefs sullen brooks 
Would better flow in furrow'd looks. 

Thy lovely face was never meant 5 

To be the shoar of discontent. 

Then clear those watrish starres again 

Which else portend a lasting rain ; 

Lest the clouds which settle there 

Prolong my Winter all the Year : 10 

And the example others make 

In love with sorrow for thy sake. 

[25] 



POEMS 



SONNET. 

When I entreat, either thou wilt not hear, 

Or else my suit arriving at thy ear 

Cools and dies there. A strange extremitie 

To freeze ith' Sun, and in the shade to frie. 

Whil'st all my blasted hopes decline so soon, 5 

Tis Evening with me, though at high Noon. 

For pity to thy self, if not to me 
Think time will ravish, what I lose, from thee. 
If my scorcht heart wither through thy delay, 
Thy beauty withers too. And swift decay 10 

Arrests thy Youth. So thou whil'st I am slighted 
Wilt be too soon with age or sorrow nighted. 



To a Lady who sent me a copy of verses at my 
going to bed. 

Lady your art or wit could nere devise 

To shame me more then in this nights surprise. 

Why I am quite unready, and my eye 

Now winking like my candle, doth deny 

To guide my hand, if it had ought to write ; 5 

Nor can I make my drowsie sense indite 

Which by your verses musick (as a spell 

Sent from the Sybellean Oracle) 

Is charm'd and bound in wonder and delight, 

Faster then all the leaden chains of night. 10 



THE PINK 



What pity is it then you should so ill 
Employ the bounty of your flowing quill, 
As to expend on him your bedward thought, 
Who can acknowledge that large love in nought 
But this lean wish; that fate soon send you those 15 
Who may requite your rhimes with midnight prose ? 

Mean time, may all delights and pleasing Theams 
Like Masquers revell in your Maiden dreams, 
Whil'st dull to write, and to do more unmeet, 
I, as the night invites me. fall asleep. 20 



The Pink. 

Fair one, you did on me bestow 
Comparisons too sweet to ow ; 
And but I found them sent from you 
I durst not think they could be true. 

But 'tis your uncontrolled power 5 

Goddess-like to produce a flower. 
And by your breath, without more seed, 
Make that a Pink which was a Weed. 

Because I would be loth to miss 
So sweet a Metamorphosis, 10 

Upon what stalk soere I grow 
Disdain not you sometimes to blow 
And cherish by your Virgin eye 
What in your frown would droop and die: 

[27] 



POEMS 



So shall my thankful leaf repay 15 

Perfumed wishes every day: 
And o're your fortune breathe a spell 
Which may his obligation tell, 
Who though he nought but she can give 
Must ever your (Sweet) creature live. 20 



To his Friends of Christ-Church upon the mislike 
of the Marriage of the Arts acted at Woodstock. 

But is it true, the Court mislik't the Play, 

That Christ-Church and the Arts have lost the day; 

That Ignoramus should so far excell, 

Their Hobby-horse from ours hath born the Bell? 

Troth you are justly serv'd, that would present 5 

Ought unto them, but shallow merriment ; 
Or to your Marriage-table did admit 
Guests that are stronger far in smell then wit. 

Had some quaint Bawdry larded ev'ry Scene, 
Some fawning Sycophant, or courted queane; 10 

Had there appear'd some sharp cross-garter'd man 
Whom their loud laugh might nick-name Puritan, 
Cas'd up in factious breeches and small ruffe, 
That hates the surplis, and defies the cuffe : 
Then sure they would have given applause to crown 15 
That which their ignorance did now cry down. 

[28] 



THE SURRENDER 



Let me advise, when next you do bestow 
Your pains on men that do but little know, 
You do no Chorus nor a Comment lack, 
Which may expound and construe ev'ry Act: 20 

That it be short and slight ; for if 't be good 
Tis long, and neither lik't nor understood. 

Know tis Court fashion still to discommend 
All that which they want brain to comprehend. 



The Surrender. 

My once dear Love ; hapless that I no more 
Must call thee so : the rich affections store 
That fed our hopes, lies now exhaust and spent. 
Like summes of treasure unto Bankrupts lent. 

We that did nothing study but the way 5 

To love each other, with which thoughts the day 
Rose with delight to us, and with them set, 
Must learn the hateful Art how to forget. 

We that did nothing wish that Heav'n could give 
Beyond our selves, nor did desire to live 10 

Beyond that wish, all these now can cell must 
As if not writ in faith, but words and dust. 

Yet witness those cleer vowes which Lovers make, 
Witness the chast desires that never brake 

[29] 



POEMS 



Into unruly heats ; witness that brest 15 

Which in thy bosom anchor'd his whole rest, 

Tis no default in us, I dare acquite 

Thy Maiden faith, thy purpose fair and white 

As thy pure self. Cross Planets did envie 

Us to each other, and Heaven did untie 20 

Faster then vowes could binde. O that the Starres, 

When Lovers meet, should stand oppos'd in warres ! 

Since then some higher Destinies command, 
Let us not strive nor labour to withstand 
What is past help. The longest date of grief 25 

Can never yield a hope of our relief ; 
And though we waste our selves in moist laments, 
Tears may drown us but not our discontents. 

Fold back our arms, take home our fruitless loves. 
That must new fortunes trie, like Turtle Doves 30 

Dislodged from their haunts. We must in tears 
Unwind a love knit up in many years. 
In this last kiss I here surrender thee 
Back to thy self, so thou again art free. 
Thou in another, sad as that, resend 35 

The truest heart that Lover ere did lend. 

Now turn from each. So fare our sever 'd hearts 
As the divorc't soul from her body parts. 



[30] 



THE LEGACY 



The Legacy. 

My dearest Love ! when thou and I must part, 
And th' icy hand of death shall seize that heart 
Which is all thine ; within some spacious will 
lie leave no blanks for Legacies to fill: 

Tis my ambition to die one of those 5 

Who but himself hath nothing to dispose. 

And since that is already thine, what need 

I to re-give it by some newer deed? 

Yet take it once again. Free circumstance 

Does oft the value of mean things advance: 10 

Who thus repeats what he bequeathed before, 
Proclaims his bounty richer then his store. 

But let me not upon my love bestow 

What is not worth the giving. I do ow 

Somwhat to dust: my bodies pamper'd care 15 

Hungry corruption and the worm will share. 
That mouldring relick which in earth must lie 
Would prove a gift of horrour to thine eie. 

With this cast ragge of my mortalitie 

Let all my faults and errours buried be. 20 

And as my sear-cloth rots, so may kind fate 

Those worst acts of my life incinerate. 
He shall in story fill a glorious room 
Whose ashes and whose sins sleep in one Tomb. 



[31] 



POEMS 



If now to my cold hearse thou deign to bring 25 

Some melting sighs as thy last offering, 

My peaceful exequies are crown'd. Nor shall 

I ask more honour at my Funerall. 

Thou wilt more richly balm me with thy tears 

Then all the Nard fragrant Arabia bears. 30 

And as the Paphian Queen by her griefs show'r 
Brought up her dead Loves Spirit in a flow'r: 
So by those precious drops rain'd from thine eies 
Out of my dust, O may some vertue rise ! 

And like thy better Genius thee attend, 35 

Till thou in my dark Period shalt end. 

Lastly, my constant truth let me commend 

To him thou choosest next to be thy friend. 

For (witness all things good) I would not have 

Thy Youth and Beauty married to my grave, 40 

'Twould shew thou didst repent the style of wife 

Should'st thou relapse into a single life. 

They with preposterous grief the world delude 

Who mourn for their lost Mates in solitude; 

Since Widdowhood more strongly doth enforce 45 

The much lamented lot of their divorce. 

Themselves then of their losses guilty are 

Who may, yet will not suffer a repaire. 

Those were Barbarian wives that did invent 

Weeping to death at th' Husbands Monument, 50 

[32] 



THE SHORT WOOING 



But In more civil Rites She doth approve 
Her first, who ventures on a second Love; 

For else it may be thought, if She refrain, 

She sped so ill Shee durst not trie again. 

Up then my Love, and choose some worthier one 55 

Who may supply my room when I am gone ; 
So will the stock of our affection thrive 
No less in death, then were I still alive. 

And in my urne I shall re Joyce, that I 

Am both Testatour thus and Legacie. 60 



The Short Wooing. 

Like an Oblation set before a Shrine, 

Fair One ! I ofFer up this heart of mine. 

Whether the Saint accept m^y Gift or no, 

He neither fear nor doubt before I know. 

For he whose faint distrust prevents reply, 5 

Doth his own suits denial prophecy. 

Your will the sentence is ; Who free as Fate 
Can bid my love proceed, or else retreat. 
And from short views that verdict is decreed 
Which seldom doth one audience exceed. 10 

Love asks no dull probation, but like light 
Conveyes his nimble influence at first sight. 

I need not therefore importune or press; 
This were t'extort unwilling happiness : 

[33] 



POEMS 



And much against affection might I sin: 15 

To tire and weary what I seek to win. 
Towns which by lingring siege enforced be 
Oft make both sides repent the victorie. 

Be Mistriss of your self: and let me thrive 
Or suffer by your own prerogative. 20 

Yet stay, since you are Judge, who in one breath 
Bear uncontrolled power of Life and Death, 
Remember (Sweet) pity doth best become 
Those lips which must pronounce a Suitors doome. 

If I find that, my spark of chast desire 25 

Shall kindle into Hymens holy fire : 
Else like sad flowers will these verses prove, 
To stick the Coffin of rejected Love. 



St. Valentines day. 

Now that each feather'd Chorister doth sing 

The glad approches of the welcome Spring: 

Now Phoebus darts forth his more early beam. 

And dips It later in the curled stream, 

I should to custome prove a retrograde 5 

Did I still dote upon my sullen shade. 

Oft have the seasons finisht and begun ; 
Dayes Into Months, those into years have run, 
Since my cross Starres and inauspicious fate 
Doom'd me to linger here without my Mate: 10 

[34] 



TO HIS UNCONSTANT FRIEND 



Whose loss ere since befrosting my desire, 
Left me an Altar without Gift or Fire. 

I therefore could have wisht for your own sake 
That Fortune had design'd a nobler stake 
For you to draw, then one whose fading day 15 

Like to a dedicated Taper lay 
Within a Tomb, and long burnt out in vain, 
Since nothing there saw better by the flame. 

Yet since you like your Chance, I must not try 
To marre it through my incapacity. 20 

I here make title to it, and proclalme 
How much you honour me to wear my name ; 
Who can no form of gratitude devise. 
But offer up my self your sacrifice. 

Hail then my worthy Lot ! and may each Morn 25 
Successive springs of joy to you be born: 
May your content ne're wane, untill my heart 
Grown Bankrupt, wants good wishes to Impart. 
Henceforth I need not make the dust my Shrine, 
Nor search the Grave for my lost Valentine. 

To his unconstant Friend, 

But say thou very woman, why to me 
This fit of weakness and Inconstancle ? 
What forfeit have I made of word or vow, 
That I am rack't on thy displeasure now? 
If I have done a fault I do not shame 

[35] 



30 



POEMS 



To cite ft from thy lips, give it a name : 

I ask the banes, stand forth, and tell me why 

We should not in our wonted loves comply ? 

Did thy cloy'd appetite urge thee to trie 

If any other man could love as I? 10 

I see friends are like clothes, lad up whil'st new, 

But after wearing cast, though nere so true. 

Or did thy fierce ambition long to make 

Some Lover turn a martyr for thy sake ? 

Thinking thy beauty had deserv'd no name 15 

Unless some one do perish in that flame : 

Upon whose loving dust this sentence lies, 

Here's one was murther'd by his Mistriss eyes. 

Or was't because my love to thee was such, 
I could not choose but blab it ? swear how much 20 
I was thy slave, and doting let thee know, 
I better could my self then thee forgo. 

Hearken ye men that ere shall love like me. 
He give you counsel gratis : if you be 
Possest of what you like, let your fair friend 25 

Lodge in your bosom, but no secrets send 
To seek their lodging in a female brest; 
For so much is abated of your rest. 
The Steed that comes to understand his strength 
Growes wild, and casts his manager at length : 30 
And that tame Lover who unlocks his heart 
Unto his Mistriss, teaches her an art 
To plague himself ; shews her the secret way 
How She may tyrannize another day. 

[36] 



TO HIS UNCONSTANT FRIEND 



And now my fair unklndness, thus to thee; 35 
Mark how wise Passion and I agree: 
Hear and be sorry for't. I will not die 
To expiate thy crime of levitie: 
I walk (not cross-arm'd neither) eat, and live, 
Yea live to pity thy neglect, not grieve 40 

That thou art from thy faith and promise gone, 
Nor envy him who by my loss hath won. 
Thou shalt perceive thy changing Moon-like fits 
Have not infected me, or turn'd my wits 
To Lunacie. I do not mean to weep 45 

When I should eat, or sigh when I should sleep ; 
I will not fall upon my pointed quill, 
Bleed ink and Poems, or invention spill 
To contrive Ballads, or weave Elegies 
For Nurses wearing when the infant cries. 50 

Nor like th'enamour'd Tristrams of the time. 
Despair in prose, and hang my self in rhime. 
Nor thither run upon my verses feet, 
Where I shall none but fools or mad-men meet, 
Who mid'st the silent shades, and Myrtle walks, 55 
Pule and do penance for their Mistress faults. 
I'm none of those poetick male-contents 
Born to make paper dear with my laments: 
Or wild Orlando that will rail and vex, 
And for thy sake fall out with all the sex. 60 

No, I will love again, and seek a prize 
That shall redeem me from thy poor despise. 
He court my fortune now in such a shape 
That will no faint die, nor starv'd colour take. 



[37] 



POEMS 



Thus launch I off with triumph from thy shore, 65 
To which my last farewell ; for never more 
Will I touch there. I put to Sea again 
Blown with the churlish wind of thy disdain. 
Nor will I stop this course till I have found 
A Coast that yields safe harbour, and firm ground. 70 

Smile ye Love-Starres ; wing'd with desire I fly 
To make my wishes full discovery : 
Nor doubt I but for one that proves like you, 
I shall find ten as fair, and yet more true. 



Madam Gabrina, Or the Ill-favourd Choice. 

Con mala Muger el remedio 
Mucha Tierra por el medio. 

I have oft wondred why thou didst elect 

Thy Mistress of a stuff none could affect, 

That wore his eyes in the right place. A thing 

Made up, when Natures powers lay slumbering. 

One, where all pregnant imperfections met 5 

To make her sexes scandal: Teeth of jet. 

Hair dy'd in Orpment, from whose fretful hew 

Canidia her highest Witch-crafts drew. 

A lip most thin and pale, but such a mouth 

Which like the Poles is stretched North and South. 10 

A face so colour'd, and of such a form, 

As might defiance bid unto a storm : 

[38] 



MADAM GABRINA 



And the complexion of her sallow hide 

Like a wrack't body washt up by the Tyde : 

Eyes small : a nose so to her vizard glew'd 15 

As if 'twould take a Planets altitude. 

Last for her breath, 'tis somewhat like the smell 

That does in Ember weeks on Fishstreet dwell ; 

Or as a man should fasting scent the Rose 

Which in the savoury Bear-garden growes. 20 

If a Fox cures the Paralyticall, 

Had'st thou ten Palsies, she'd out-stink them all. 

But I have found thy plot : sure thou did'st trie 
To put thy self past hope of jealousie: 
And whil'st unlearned fools the senses please, 25 

Thou cur'st thy appetite by a disease ; 
As many use to kill an itch withall, 
Quicksilver or some biting Minerall. 

Dote upon handsome things each common man 
With little study and less labour can; 30 

But to make love to a Deformity, 
Onely commends thy great ability, 
Who from hard-favour'd objects draw'st content, 
As Estriches from iron nutriment. 

Well take her, and like mounted George, in bed 35 

Boldly atchieve thy Dragons Maiden-head : 
Where ( though scarce sleep ) thou mayst rest confident 
None dares beguile thee of thy punishment : 
The sin were not more foul he should commit, 
Then is that She with whom he acted it. 40 

[39] 



POEMS 



Yet take this comfort : when old age shall raze, 
Or sickness ruine many a good face, 
Thy choice cannot impair; no cunning curse 
Can mend that night-peece, that is, make her worse. 



The Defence. 

Piensan los Enamorados 

Que tienen los otros, los oios quebranta dos. 

Why slightest thou what I approve ? 
Thou art no Peer to try my love, 
Nor canst discern where her form lyes, 
Unless thou saw'st her with my eyes. 

Say she were foul and blacker than 5 

The Night, or Sun-burnt African, 
If lik't by me, tis I alone 
Can make a beauty where was none ; 
For rated in my fancie, she 
Is so as she appears to me. 10 

But tis not feature, or a face. 
That does my free election grace, 
Nor is my liking onely led 
By a well temperd white and red ; 
Could I enamour'd grow on those, 15 

The Lilly and the blushing Rose 
United in one stalk might be 
As dear unto my thoughts as she. 

[40] 



TO ONE DEMANDING WHY WINE SPARKLES 

But I look farther, and do find 
A richer beauty in her mind ; 20 

Where something is so lasting fair, 
As time or age cannot impair. 
Had'st thou a perspective so cleere, 
Thou could'st behold my object there; 
When thou her vertues should'st espy, 25 

Theyl'd force thee to confess that I 
Had cause to like her, and learn thence 
To love by judgment not by sence. 

To One demanding why Wine sparkles. 

So Diamonds sparkle, and thy Mistriss eyes; 

When tis not Fire but light in either flyes. 

Beauty not thaw'd by lustful flames will show 

Like a fair mountain of unmelted snow: 

Nor can the tasted vine more danger bring 5 

Then water taken from the chrystall Spring, 

Whose end is to refresh and cool that heat 

Which unallayd becomes foul vices seat: 

Unless thy boyling veins, mad with desire 

Of drink, convert the liquor into fire. 10 

For then thou quaff 'st down feavers, thy full bowles 

Carouse the burning draughts of Portia's coles. 

If it do leap and sparkle in the cup, 
Twill sink thy cares, and help invention up. 
There never yet was Muse or Poet known 15 

Not dipt or drenched in this Helicon. 

[41] 



POEMS 



But Tom ! take heed thou use It with such care 

As Witches deal with their Familiar. 

For if thy vertues circle not confine 

And guard thee from the Furies rais'd by wine, 20 

'Tis ten to one this dancing spirit may 

A Devil prove to bear thy wits away ; 

And make thy glowing nose a Map of Hell 

Where Bacchus purple fumes like Meteors dwell. 

Now think not these sage moralls thee invite 25 

To prove Carthusian or strict Rechabite; 

Let fooles be mad, wise people may be free, 

Though not to license turn their libertie. 

He that drinks wine for health, not for excess. 

Nor drownes his temper in a drunkenness, 30 

Shall feel no more the grapes unruly fate. 

Then if he took some chilling Opiate. 

By occasion of the Young Prince his happy birth. 

At this glad Triumph, when most Poets use 

Their quill, I did not bridle up my Muse 

For sloth or less devotion. I am one 

That can well keep my Holy-dayes at home; 

That can the blessings of my King and State 5 

Better in pray'r then poems gratulate; 

And in their fortunes bear a loyal part, 

Though I no bone-fires light but in my heart. 

Truth is, when I receiv'd the first report 
Of a new Starre risen and seen at Court; 10 



[42] 



BY OCCASION OF THE YOUNG PRINCE 

Though I felt joy enough to give a tongue 
Unto a mute, yet duty strook me dumb : 
And thus surpriz'd by rumour, at first sight 
I held it some allegiance not to write. 

For howere Children, unto those that look 15 

Their Pedigree in God's, not the Church book, 
Fair pledges are of that eternitie 
Which Christians possess not till they die; 
Yet they appear view'd in that perspective 
Through vi^hich we look on men long since alive, 20 

Like succours in a Camp, sent to make good 
Their place that last upon the watches stood. 
So that in age, or fate, each following birth 
Doth set the Parent so much neerer earth : 
And by this Grammar we our heirs may call 25 

The smiling Preface to our funerall. 

This sadded my soft sense, to think that he 
Who now makes Lawes, should by a bold decree 
Be summon'd hence to make another room. 
And change his Royal Palace for a tomb. 30 

For none ere truly lov'd the present light, 
But griev'd to see it rivall'd by the night : 
And if't be sin to wish that light extinct. 
Sorrow may make it treason but to think't. 
I know each male-content or giddy man, 35 

In his religion with the Persian, 
Adores the rising Sun; and his false view 
Best likes not what is best, but what is new. 

[43] 



POEMS 



O that we could these gangrenes so prevent 

(For our own blessing and their punishment) 40 

That all such might, who for wild changes thirst, 

Rack't on a hopeless expectation, burst, 

To see us fetter time, and by his stay 

To a consistence fix the flying day; 

And in a Solstice by our prayers made, 45 

Rescue our Sun from death or envies shade. 

But here we dally with fate, and in this 
Stern Destiny mocks and controules our wish ; 
Informing us, if fathers should remain 
For ever here, children were born in vain ; 50 

And we in vain were Christians, should we 
In this world dream of perpetuitie. 
Decay is natures Kalendar; nor can 
It hurt the King to think he is a man ; 
Nor grieve, but comfort him, to hear us say 55 

That his own children must his Scepter sway. 
Why slack I then to contribute a vote 
Large as the Kingdoms joy, free as my thought? 
Long live the Prince, and in that title bear 
The world long witness that the King is here : 60 

May he grow up till all that good he reach 
Which we can wish, or his Great Father teach: 
Let him shine long a mark to Land and Mayn, 
Like that bright Spark plac't neerest to Charles Wayn, 
And like him lead successions golden Teame, 65 

Which may possess the Brittish Diademe. 



[44] 



UPON THE KINGS RETURN FROM SCOTLAND 



But in the mean space, let his Royal Sire, 
Who warmes our hopes with true Promethean fire, 
So long his course in time and glory run, 
Till he estate his vertue on his son. 70 

So in his Fathers dayes this happy One 
Shall crowned be, yet not usurp the Throne ; 
And Charles reign still, since thus himself will be 
Heir to himself through all Posteritie. 

Upon the Kings happy return from Scotland, 

So breaks the day when the returning Sun 
Hath newly through his Winter Tropick run. 
As You (Great Sir!) in this regress come forth 
From the remoter Climate of the North. 

To tell You now what cares, what fears we past, 5 

What Clouds of sorrow did the land ore-cast, 
Were lost, but unto such as have been there 
Where the absented Sun benights the year : 
Or have those Countreys traveld which nere feel 
The warmth and vertue of his flaming wheel. 10 

How happy yet were we ! that when you went, 
You left within your Kingdomes tirmament 
A Partner-Light, whose lustre may despise 
The nightly glimm'ring Tapers of the skies. 
Your peerless Queen; and at each hand a Starre 15 

Whose hopeful beam^s from You enkindled are. 
Though (to say truth) the light which they could bring 
Serv'd but to lengthen out our evening. 

[45] 



POEMS 



Heavens greater lamps illumine It; each spark 
Adds onely this, to make the sky less dark. 20 

Nay She who Is the glory of her sex 
Did sadly droop for lack of Your reflex: 
Oft did She her fair brow In loneness shrowd, 
And dimly shone, like Venus In a cloud. 

Now are those gloomy mists dry'd up by You, 25 

As the Worlds eye scatters the Ev'ning dew : 
And You bring home that blessing to the land 
Which absence made us rightly understand. 

Here may You henceforth stay ! there need no charms 
To hold You, but the circle of her arms, 30 

Whose fruitful love yields You a rich Increase, 
Seales of Your joy, and of the KIngdomes peace. 
O may those precious pledges fixe You here. 
And You grow old within that chrystall Sphere ! 

Pardon this bold detention. Else our love 35 

Will meerly an officious trouble prove. 
Each busle minute tells us as It flies, 
That there are better objects for your eyes. 
To them let us leave you, whll'st we go pray, 
Raising this triumph to a Holy-day. 40 

And may that soul the Churches blessing want; 
May his content be short, his comforts scant, 
Whose Bosom-Altar does no Incense burn. 
In thankful sacrifice for your return. 



[46] 



TO THE QUEEN AT OXFORD 



To the Queen at Oxford. 

Great Lady! That thus quite against our use, 

We speak your welcome by an English Muse, 

And in a vulgar tongue our zeales contrive, 

Is to confess your large prerogative, 

Who have the pow'rful freedom to dispense 5 

With our strict Rules, or Customes difference. 

Tis fit when such a Star deigns to appeare 
And shine within the Academick Spheare, 
That ev'ry Colledge grac't by your resort, 
Should onely speak the language of your Court; 10 

As if Apollo's learned Quire, but You 
No other Queen of the Ascendent knew. 

Let those that list invoke the Delphian name, 
To light their verse, and quench their doting flame ; 
In Helicon it were High Treason now, 15 

Did any to a feign'd Minerva bow ; 
When You are present, whose chast vertues stain 
The vaunted glories of her Maiden brain. 

I would not flatter. May that dyet feed 
Deform'd and vicious soules: they onely need 20 

Such physick, who grown sick of their decayes, 
Are onely cur'd with surfets of false praise ; 
Like those, who fall'n from Youth or Beauties grace, 
Lay colours on which more bely the face. 

[47] 



POEMS 



Be You still what You are ; a glorious Theme 25 
For Truth to crown. So when that Diademe 
Which circles Your fair brow drops off, and time 
Shall lift You to that pitch our prayers climbe ; 
Posterity will plat a nobler wreath, 
To crown Your fame and memory in death. 30 

This is sad truth and plain, which I might fear 
Would scarce prove welcome to a Princes ear ; 
And hardly may you think that Writer wise 
Who preaches there where he should poetize; 
Yet where so rich a bank of goodness is, 35 

Triumphs and Feasts admit such thoughts as this; 
Nor will your vertue from her Client turn, 
Although he bring his tribute in an urn. 

Enough of this: who knowes not when to end 
Needs must by tedious diligence offend. 40 

'Tis not a Poets office to advance 
The precious value of allegiance. 
And least of all the rest do I affect 
To word my duty in this dialect. 

My service lies a better way, whose tone 45 

Is spirited by full devotion. 

Thus whil'st I mention You, Your Royal Mate, 
And Those which your blest line perpetuate, 
I shall such votes of happiness reherse, 
Whose softest accents will out-tongue my verse. 50 



[48] 



A SALUTATION OF HIS MAJESTIES SHIP 



A salutation of his Majesties Ship the Soveraign. 

Move on thou floating Trophee built to fame ! 
And bid her trump spread thy Majestick name; 
That the blew Tritons, and those petty Gods 
Which sport themselves upon the dancing floods, 
May bovs^ as to their Neptune, when they feel 5 

The awful pressure of thy potent keel. 

Great wonder of the time ! whose form unites, 
In one aspect two warring opposites, 
Delight and horrour ; and in them portends 
Difif'ring events both to thy foes and friends: 10 

To these thy radiant brow, Peaces bright Shrine, 
Doth like that golden Constellation shine, 
Which guides the Sea man with auspicious beams, 
Safe and unshipwrackt through the troubled streams. 
But, as a blazing Meteor, to those 15 

It doth ostents of blood and death disclose. 
For thy rich Decks lighten like Heavens fires. 
To usher forth the thunder of thy Tires. 

O never may cross wind, or swelling wave 
Conspire to make the treach'rous sands thy grave : 20 
Nor envious rocks in their white foamy laugh 
Rejoyce to wear thy losses Epitaph. 
But may the smoothest, most successful gales 
Distend thy sheet, and wing thy flying sailes : 
That all designes which must on thee embark, 25 

May be securely plac't as in the Ark. 

[49] 



POEMS 



May'st thou, where ere thy streamers shall display, 
Enforce the bold disputers to obey: 
That they whose pens are sharper then their swords, 
May yield in fact what they deny'd in words. 30 

Thus when th'amazed world our Seas shall see 
Shut from Usurpers, to their own Lord free. 
Thou may'st returning from the conquer'd Main, 
With thine own Triumphs be crown'd Soveraign» 

AN EPITAPH 

On his most honoured Friend Richard Earl of 
Dorset. 

Let no profane ignoble foot tread neer 

This hallow'd peece of earth, Dorset lies here, 

A small sad relique of a noble spirit, 

Free as the air, and ample as his merit ; 

Whose least perfection was large, and great 5 

Enough to make a common man compleat. 

A soul refin'd and cull'd from many men. 

That reconcil'd the sword unto the pen. 

Using both well. No proud forgetting Lord, 

But mindful of mean names and of his word. 10 

One that did love for honour, not for ends, 

And had the noblest way of making friends 

By loving first. One that did know the Court, 

Yet understood it better by report 

Then practice, for he nothing took from thence 15 

But the kings favour for his recompence. 

[50] 



THE EXEQUY 



One for religion, or his countreys good 
That valu'd not his Fortune nor his blood. 
One high in fair opinion, rich in praise; 
And full of all we could have wisht, but dayes. 20 

He that is warn'd of this, and shall forbear 
To vent a sigh for him, or lend a tear ; 
May he live long and scorn'd, unpiti'd fall, 
And w^ant a mourner at his funerall. 



The Exequy. 

Accept thou Shrine of my dead Saint, 

Insteed of Dirges this complaint; 

And for sweet flowres to crown thy hearse, 

Receive a strew of weeping verse 

From thy griev'd friend, whom thou might'st see 5 

Quite melted into tears for thee. 

Dear loss ! since thy untimely fate 
My task hath been to meditate 
On thee, on thee : thou art the book, 
The library whereon I look 10 

Though almost blind. For thee (lov'd clay) 
I languish out not live the day, 
Using no other exercise 
But what I practise w^ith mine eyes : 
By which wet glasses I find out 15 

How lazily time creeps about 
To one that mourns : this, onely this 

[51] 



POEMS 



My exercise and bus'ness is : 

So I compute the weary houres 

With sighs dissolved into showres. 20 

Nor wonder if my time go thus 
Backward and most preposterous; 
Thou hast benighted me, thy set 
This Eve of blackness did beget, 
Who was't my day, (though overcast 25 

Before thou had'st thy Noon-tide past) 
And I remember must in tears. 
Thou scarce had'st seen so many years 
As Day tells houres. By thy cleer Sun 
My love and fortune first did run ; 30 

But thou wilt never more appear 
Folded within my Hemisphear, 
Since both thy light and motion 
Like a fled Star is fall'n and gon. 
And twixt me and my soules dear wish 35 

The earth now interposed is, 
Which such a strange eclipse doth make 
As ne're was read in Almanake. 

I could allow thee for a time 
To darken me and my sad Clime, 40 

Were it a month, a j^ear, or ten, 
I would thy exile live till then ; 
And all that space my mirth adjourn, 
So thou wouldst promise to return; 
And putting off thy ashy shrowd 45 

At length disperse this sorrows cloud. 

[52] 



THE EXEQUY 



But woe Is me ! the longest date 
Too narrow is to calculate 
These empty hopes : never shall I 
Be so much blest as to descry 50 

A glimpse of thee, till that day come 
Which shall the earth to cinders doome, 
And a fierce Feaver must calcine 
The body of this world like thine, 
(My Little World !) that fit of fire 55 

Once off, our bodies shall aspire 
To our soules bliss: then we shall rise, 
And \\^w our selves with cleerer eyes 
In that calm Region, where no night 
Can hide us from each others sight. 60 

Mean time, thou hast her earth : much good 
May my harm do thee. Since it stood 
With Heavens will I might not call 
Her longer mine, I give thee all 
My short-liv'd right and interest 65 

In her, whom living I lov'd best: 
With a most free and bounteous grief, 
I give thee what I could not keep. 
Be kind to her, and prethee look 
Thou write into thy Dooms-day book 70 

Each parcell of this Rarity 
Which in thy Casket shrin'd doth ly : 
See that thou make thy reck'ning streight, 
And yield her back again by weight; 
For thou must audit on thy trust 75 

Each graine and atome of this dust, 

[53] 



POEMS 



As thou wilt answer Him that lent, 
Not gave thee my dear Monument. 

So close the ground, and 'bout her shade 
Black curtains draw, my Bride is laid. 80 

Sleep on my Love in thy cold bed 
Never to be disquieted ! 
My last good night ! Thou wilt not wake 
Till I thy fate shall overtake: 

Till age, or grief, or sickness must 85 

Marry my body to that dust 
It so much loves; and fill the room 
My heart keeps empty in thy Tomb. 
Stay for me there ; I will not faile 
To meet thee in that hallow Vale. 90 

And think not much of my delay; 
I am already on the way, 
And follow thee with all the speed 
Desire can make, or sorrows breed. 
Each minute is a short degree, 95 

And ev'ry houre a step towards thee. 
A^t night when I betake to rest. 
Next morn I rise neerer my West 
Of life, almost by eight houres saile, 
Then when sleep breath'd his drowsie gale. 100 

Thus from the Sun my Bottom stears, 
And my dayes Compass downward bears: 
Nor labour I to stemme the tide 
Through which to Thee I swiftly glide. 

[54] 



THE ANNIVERSE—AN ELEGY 



'TIs true, with shame and grief I yield, 105 

Thou like the Vann first took'st the field, 
And gotten hast the victory 
In thus adventuring to dy 
Before me, whose more years might crave 
A just precedence in the grave. 110 

But heark ! My pulse like a soft Drum 
Beats my approch, tells Thee I come; 
And slow howere my marches be, 
I shall at last sit down by Thee. 

The thought of this bids me go on, 115 

And wait my dissolution 
With hope and comfort. Dear (forgive 
The crime) I am content to live 
Divided, with but half a heart, 
Till we shall meet and never part. 120 



The A universe. 

AN ELEGY. 

So soon grown old ! hast thou been six years dead ? 

Poor earth, once by my Love inhabited! 

And must I live to calculate the time 

To which thy blooming youth could never climbe, 

But fell in the ascent ! yet have not I 

Studi'd enough thy losses history. 

[55] 



POEMS 



How happy were mankind if Death's strict lawes 
Consum'd our lamentations like the cause ! 
Or that our grief turning to dust might end 
With the dissolved body of a friend ! 10 

But sacred Heaven ! O how just thou art 
In stamping deaths impression on that heart 
Which through thy favours would grow insolent, 
Were it not physick't by sharp discontent. 
If then it stand resolv'd in thy decree 15 

That still I must doom'd to a Desart be 
Sprung out of my lone thoughts, which know no path 
But what my own misfortune beaten hath : 
If thou wilt bind me living to a coarse, 
And I must slowly waste ; I then of force 20 

Stoop to thy great appointment, and obey 
That will which nought avail me to gainsay. 

For whil'st in sorrowes Maze I wander on, 
I do but follow lifes vocation. 

Sure we were made to grieve : at our first birth 25 

With cries we took possession of the earth ; 
And though the lucky man reputed be 
Fortunes adopted son, yet onely he 
Is Natures true born child, who summes his years 
(Like me) with no Arithmetick but tears. 30 



[56] 



ON TWO CHILDREN DYING OF ONE DISEASE 

On two Children dying of one Disease, and buried 
in one Grave. 

Brought forth In sorrow, and bred up In care, 

Two tender Children here entombed are: 

One Place, one Sire, one Womb their being gave, 

They had one mortal sickness, and one grave. 

And though they cannot number many years 5 

In their Account, yet with their Parents tears 

This comfort mingles ; Though their dayes were few 

They scarcely sinne, but never sorrow knew: 

So that they well might boast, they carry'd hence 

What riper ages lose, their Innocence. 10 

You pretty losses, that revive the fate 
Which In your mother death did antedate, 
O let my hlgh-swol'n grief distill on you 
The saddest drops of a Parentall dew : 
You ask no other dower then what my eyes 15 

Lay out on your untimely exequies : 
When once I have discharg'd that mournfuU skore, 
Heav'n hath decreed you ne're shall cost me more, 
Since you release and quit my borrowed trust. 
By taking this Inheritance of dust. 20 

A Letter. 

I ne'r was drest In Forms ; nor can I bend 
My pen to flatter any, nor commend, 
Unless desert or honour do present 
Unto my verse a worthy argument. 

[57] 



POEMS 



You are my friend, and in that word to me 5 

Stand blazon'd in your noblest Heraldry; 
That style presents you full, and does relate 
The bounty of your love, and my own fate, 
Both which conspir'd to make me yours. A choice 
Which needs must in the giddy peoples voice, 10 

That onely judge the outside, and like apes 
Play with our names, and comment on our shapes, 
Appear too light : but it lies you upon 
To justifie the disproportion. 

Truth be my record, I durst not presume 15 

To seek to you, 'twas you that did assume 
Me to your bosom. Wherein you subdu'd 
One that can serve you, though ne're could intrude 
Upon great titles ; nor knows how t'invade 
Acquaintance : Like such as are onely paid 20 

With great mens smiles ; if that the passant Lord 
Let fall a forc't salute, or but afford 
The Nod Regardant. It was test enough 
For me, you ne're did find such servile stuff 
Couch't in my temper ; I can freely say, 25 

I do not love you in that common way 
For which Great Ones are lov'd in this false time : 
I have no wish to gain, nor will to climbe ; 
I cannot pawn my freedom, nor out-live 
My liberty for all that you can give. 30 

And sure you may retain good cheap such friends, 
Who not your fortune make, but you, their ends. 



[58] 



A LETTER 



I speak not this to vaunt in my own story, 

All these additions are unto your glory; 

Who counter to the world, use to elect, 35 

Not to take up on trust what you affect. 

Indeed 'tis seldom seen that such as you 

Adopt a friend, or for acquaintance sue; 

Yet you did this vouchsafe, you did descend 

Below your self to raise an humble friend, 40 

And fix him in your love: where I will stand 

The constant subject of your free command. 

Had I no ayerie thoughts sure you would teach 

Me higher then my own dull sphere to reach: 

And by reflex instruct me to appear 45 

Something (though course and plain) fit for your wear. 

Know, best of friends, however wild report 
May justly say I am unapt to sort 
With your opinion or society, 

(Which truth would shame me did I it deny) 50 

There's something in me sayes, I dare make good, 
When honour calls me, all I want in blood. 

Put off your Giant titles, then I can 
Stand in your judgements blank an equal man. 
Though Hills advanced are above the Plain, 55 

They are but higher earth, nor must disdain 
Alliance with the Vale : we see a spade 
Can level them, and make a Mount a Glade. 
Howere we differ in the Heralds book. 
He that mankindes extraction shall look 60 

[59] 



POEMS 



In Natures Rolles, must grant we all agree. 
In our best parts, Immortal pedigree : 
You must by that perspective onely view 
My service, else 'twill nere shew worthy you. 

You see I court you bluntly like a friend 65 

Not like a Mistress; my Muse is not penn'd 
For smooth and oylie flights: And I indent 
To use more honesty then complement. 

But I have done ; in lieu of all you give 
Receive his thankful tribute who must live 70 

Your vow'd observer, and devotes a heart 
Which will in death seal the bold counterpart. 



An Acknowledgment. 

My best of friends ! what needs a chain to tie 

One by your merit bound a Votarie ? 

Think you I have some plot upon my peace, 

I would this bondage change for a release? 

Since 'twas my fate your prisoner to be, 5 

Heav'n knows I nothing fear but libertie. 

Yet 5^ou do well that study to prevent. 

After so rich a stock of favour spent 

On one so worthless, lest my memory 

Should let so dear an obligation dy 10 

Without Record. This made my precious Friend 

Her Token, as an Antidote to send 

[60] 



AN ACKNOfVLEDGMENT 



Against forgetful poysons. That as they 

Who Vespers late, and early Mattins say 

Upon their Beads, so on this linked skore 15 

In golden numbers I might reckon ore 

Your vertues and my debt, which does surmount 

The trivial laws of Popular account : 

For that within this emblematick knot 

Your beauteous mind, and my own fate is wrote. 20 

The sparkling constellation which combines 
The Lock, is your dear self, whose worth outshines 
Most of your sex : so solid and so clear 
You like a perfect Diamond appear ; 

Casting from your example fuller light 25 

Then those dimme sparks which glaze the brow of night, 
And gladding all your friends, as doth the ray 
Of that East-starre which wakes the cheerful day. 

But the black Map of death and discontent 
Behind that Adamantine firmament, 30 

That luckless figure which like Calvary 
Stands strew'd and coppy'd out in skuls, is I : 
Whose life your absence clouds, and makes my time 
Move blindfold in the dark ecliptick line. 

Then wonder not if my removed Sun 35 

So low within the Western Tropick run ; 
My eyes no day in this Horizon see. 
Since where You are not all is night to me. 



[61] 



POEMS 



Lastly, the anchor which enfastned lies 
Upon a pair of deaths, sadly applies 40 

That Monument of Rest which harbour must 
Our Ship-wrackt fortunes in a road of dust. 

So then how late soere my joyless life 
Be tired out in this affections strife : 

Though my tempestuous fancie like the skie 45 

Travail with stormes, and through my watry eie 
Sorrows high-going waves spring many a leak ; 
Though sighs blow loud til my hearts cordage break; 
Though Faith, and all my wishes prove untrue, 
Yet Death shall fix and anchor Me with You. 50 

'Tis some poor comfort that this mortal scope 
Will Period, though never Crown my Hope. 

The Acquittance. 

Not knowing who should my Acquittance take, 

I know as little what discharge to make. 

The favour is so great, that it out-goes 

All forms of thankfulness I can propose. 

Those grateful levies which my pen would raise, 5 

Are stricken dumb, or bury'd in amaze. 

Therefore, as once in Athens there was shown 

An Altar built unto the God unknown. 

My ignorant devotions must by guess 

This blind return of gratitude address, 10 

Till You vouchsafe to shew me where and how 

I may to this revealed Goddess bow. 

t62] 



THE FORFEITURE 



The Forfeiture, 

My Dearest, To let you or the world know 

What Debt of service I do truly ow 

To your unpattern'd self, were to require 

A language onely form'd in the desire 

Of him that writes. It is the common fate, 5 

Of greatest duties to evaporate 

In silent meaning, as we often see 

Fires by their too much fuel smother'd be: 

Small Obligations may find vent and speak, 

When greater the unable debtor break. 10 

And such are mine to you, whose favours store, 

Hath made me poorer then I was before ; 

For I want words and language to declare 

How strict my Bond or large your bounties are. 

Since nothing in my desp'rate fortune found, 15 
Can payment make, nor yet the summe compound : 
You must lose all, or else of force accept 
The body of a Bankrupt for your debt. 
Then Love, your Bond to Execution sue. 
And take my self, as forfeited to you. 20 



[63] 



POEMS 



The Departure. 

AN ELEGY. 

Were I to leave no more then a good friend, 

Or but to hear the summons to my end, 

(Which I have long'd for) I could then with ease 

Attire my grief in w^ords, and so appease 

That passion in my bosom, w^hich outgrowes 5 

The language of strict verse or largest prose. 

But here I am quite lost ; w^riting to you 

All that I pen or think, is forc't and new. 

My faculties run cross, and prove as weak 

T'indite this melancholly task, as speak: 10 

Indeed all words are vain, well might I spare 

This rendring of my tortur'd thoughts in ayre, 

Or sighing paper. My infectious grief 

Strikes inward, and affords me no relief. 

But still a deeper wound, to lose a sight 15 

More lov'd then health, and dearer then the light. 

But all of us were not at the same time 

Brought forth, nor are we billited in one clime. 

Nature hath pitch't mankind at several rates, 

Making our places diverse as our fates. 20 

Unto that universal law I bow, 

Though with unwilling knee ; and do allow 

Her cruell justice, which dispos'd us so 

That we must counter to our wishes go. 

'Twas part of mans first curse, which order'd well 25 

We should not alway with our likings dwell. 

[64] 



THE DEPARTURE— AN ELEGY 



'Tfs onely the Triumphant Church where we 
Shall in unsever'd Neighbourhood agree. 

Go then best soul, and where You must appear 
Restore the Day to that dull Hemisphear. 30 

Nere may the hapless Night You leave behind 
Darken the comforts of Your purer mind. 
May all the blessings Wishes can invent 
Enrich your dayes, and crown them with content. 
And though You travel down into the West, 35 

May Your lifes Sun stand fixed in the East, 
Far from the weeping set ; nor may my ear 
Take in that killing whisper, You once were. 

Thus kiss I your fair hands, taking my leave 
As Prisoners at the Bar their doom receive. 40 

All joyes go with You : let sweet peace attend 
You on the way, and wait Your journeys end. 
But let Your discontents, and sowrer fate 
Remain with me, born off in my Retrait. 
Might all your crosses in that sheet of lead 45 

Which folds my heavy heart lie buried : 
'Tis the last service I would do You, and the best 
My wishes ever meant, or tongue profest. 
Once more I take my leave. And once for all, 
Our parting shews so like a funerall, 50 

It strikes my soul, which hath most right to be 
Chief Mourner at this sad solemnitie. 

And think not. Dearest, 'cause this parting knell 
Is rung in verses, that at Your farewell 

[65] 



POEMS 



I onely mourn in Poetry and Ink: 55 

No, my Pens melancholy Plommets sink 
So low, they dive where th'hid affections sit, 
Blotting that Paper where my mirth was writ. 

Believ't that sorrow truest is which lies 
Deep in the breast, not floating in the eies: 60 

And he with saddest circumstance doth part, 
Who seals his farewell with a bleeding heart. 



PARADOX. 

That it is best for a Young Maid to marry 
an Old Man. 

Fair one, why cannot you an old man love ? 

He may as useful, and more constant prove. 

Experience shews you that maturer years 

Are a security against those fears 

Youth will expose you to ; whose wild desire 5 

As it is hot, so 'tis as rash as fire. 

Mark how the blaze extinct in ashes lies, 

Leaving no brand nor embers when it dies 

Which might the flame renew : thus soon consumes 

Youths wandring heat, and vanishes in fumes. 10 

When ages riper love unapt to stray 

Through loose and giddy change of objects, may 

In your warm bosom like a cynder lie, 

Quickned and kindled by your sparkling eie. 

[66] 



PARADOX 



'Tis not deni'd, there are extremes in both 15 

Which may the f ancie move to like or loath : 

Yet of the two you better shall endure 

To marry with the Cramp then Calenture. 

Who would in wisdom choose the Torrid Zone 

Therein to settle a Plantation? 20 

Merchants can tell you, those hot Climes were made 

But at the longest for a three years trade : 

And though the Indies cast the sweeter smell, 

Yet health and plenty do more Northward dwell ; 

For where the raging Sun-beams burn the earth, 25 

Her scorched mantle withers into dearth ; 

Yet when that drought becomes the Harvests curse, 

Snow doth the tender Corn most kindly nurse : 

Why now then wooe you not some snowy head 

To take you in meer pitty to his bed ? 30 

I doubt the harder task w^ere to perswade 

Him to love you : for if what I have said 

In Virgins as in Vegetals holds true, 

Hee'l prove the better Nurse to cherish you. 

Some men we know renown'd for wisdom grown 35 

By old records and antique Medalls shown ; 

Why ought not women then be held most wise 

Who can produce living antiquities? 

Besides if care of that main happiness 

Your sex triumphs in, doth your thoughts possess, 40 

I mean your beauty from decay to keep; 

No wash nor mask is like an old mans sleep. 

Young wives need never to be Sun-burnt fear. 

Who their old husbands for Umbrellaes wear : 



ieT\ 



POEMS 



How russet looks an Orchard on the hill 45 

To one that's water'd by some neighb'ring Drill ? 

Are not the floated Meadowes ever seen 

To flourish soonest, and hold longest green? 

You may be sure no moist'ning lacks that Bride, 

Who lies with Winter thawing by her side. 50 

She should be fruitful too as fields that joyne 

Unto the melting waste of Appenine. 

Whil'st the cold morning-drops bedew the Rose, 

It doth nor leaf, nor smell, nor colour lose ; 

Then doubt not Sweet ! Age hath supplies of wet 55 

To keep You like that flowr in water set. 

Dripping Catarrhs and Fontinells are things 

Will make You think You grew betwixt two Springs. 

And should You not think so. You scarce allow 

The force or Merit of Your Marriage-Vow ; 60 

Where Maids a new Creed learn, & must from thence 

Believe against their own or others sence. 

Else Love will nothing differ from neglect, 

Which turns not to a vertue each defect. 

He say no more but this; you women m.ake 65 

Your Childrens reck'ning by the Almanake. 

I like it well, so you contented are, 

To choose their Fathers by that Kalendar. 

Turn then old Erra Pater j and there see 

According to lifes posture and degree, 70 

What age or what complexion is most fit 

To make an English Maid happy by it ; 

And You shall find, if You will choose a man. 

Set justly for Your own Meridian, 



[68] 



PARADOX 



Though You perhaps let One and Twenty woo, 75 

Your elevation is for Fifty Two. 

PARADOX. 

That Fruition destroyes Love. 

Love is our Reasons Paradox, which still 

Against the judgment doth maintain the Will: 

And governs by such arbitrary laws. 

It onely makes the Act our Likings cause : 

We have no brave revenge, but to forgo 5 

Our full desires, and starve the Tyrant so. 

They whom the rising blood tempts not to taste, 
Preserve a stock of Love can never waste ; 
When easie people who their wish enjoy. 
Like Prodigalls at once their wealth destroy. 10 

Adam till now had stayd in Paradise 
Had his desires been bounded by his eyes. 
When he did more then look, that made th' offence, 
And forfeited his state of innocence. 
Fruition therefore is the bane t'undoe 15 

Both our affection and the subject too. 
'Tis Love into worse language to translate. 
And make it into Lust degenerate: 
'Tis to De-throne, and thrust it from the heart, 
To seat it grossely in the sensual part. 20 

Seek for the Starve that's shot upon the ground. 
And nought but a dimme gelly there is found. 

[69] 



POEMS 



Thus foul and dark our female starres appear, 

If fall'n or loosned once from Vertues Sphear. 

Glow-worms shine onely look't on, and let ly, 25 

But handled crawl into deformity: 

So beauty is no longer fair and bright. 

Then whil'st unstained by the appetite: 

And then it withers like a blasted flowre 

Some poys'nous worm or spider hath crept ore. 30 

Pigmaleons dotage on the carved stone. 

Shews Amorists their strong illusion. 

Whil'st he to gaze and court it was content, 

He serv'd as Priest at beauties Monument : 

But when by looser fires t'embraces led, 35 

It prov'd a cold hard Statue in his bed. 

Irregular affects, like mad mens dreams 

Presented by false lights and broken beams, 

So long content us, as no neer address 

Shews the weak sense our painted happiness. 40 

But when those pleasing shaddowes us forsake, 

Or of the substance we a trial make. 

Like him, deluded by the fancies mock, 

We ship-wrack 'gainst an Alabaster rock. 

What though thy Mistress far from Marble be ? 45 

Her softness will transform and harden thee. 

Lust is a Snake, and Guilt the Gorgons head. 

Which Conscience turns to Stone, & Joyes to Lead. 

Turtles themselves will blush, if put to name 
The Act, whereby they quench their am'rous flame. 50 



[70] 



PARADOX 



Who then that's wise or vertuous, would not feare 

To catch at pleasures which forbidden were, 

When those which we count lawful, cannot be 

Requir'd without some loss of modestie? 

Ev'n in the Marriage-Bed, where soft delights 55 

Are customary and authoriz'd Rites; 

What are those tributes to the wanton sense, 

But toleration of Incontinence? 

For properly you cannot call that Love 

Which does not from the Soul, but Humour move. 60 

Thus they who worship't Pan or his Shrine, 

By the fair Front judg'd all within Divine: 

Though entring, found 'twas but a Goat or Cow 

To which before their ignorance did bow. 

Such Temples and such Goddesses are these 65 

Which foolish Lovers and admirers please: 

Who if they chance within the Shrine to prie. 

Find that a beast they thought a Deity. 

Nor makes it onely our opinion less 

Of what we lik't before, and now possess ; 70 

But robbs the Fuel, and corrupts the Spice 

Which sweetens and inflames Loves sacrifice. 

After Fruition once, what is Desire 

But ashes kept warm by a dying fire? 

This is (if any) the Philosophers Stone j 75 

Which still miscarries at Projection. 

For when the Heat ad Octo intermits, 

It poorly takes us like Third Ague fits ; 

Or must on Embers as dull Druggs infuse, 

Which we for Med'cine not for Pleasure use. 80 



[71] 



POEMS 



Since Lovers joyes then leave so sick a taste, 
And soon as relish'd by the Sense are past; 
They are but Riddles sure, lost if possest, 
And therefore onely in Reversion best. 
For bate them Expectation and Delay, 85 

You take the most delightful Scenes away. 
These two such rule within the fancie keep, 
As banquets apprehended in our sleep; 
After which pleasing trance next morn we wake 
Empty and angry at the nights mistake. 90 

Give me long Dreams and Visions of content, 
Rather then pleasures in a minute spent. 
And since I know before, the shedding Rose 
In that same instant doth her sweetness lose, 
Upon the Virgin-stock still let her dwell 95 

For me, to feast my longings with her smell. 
Those are but counterfeits of joy at best, 
Which languish soon as brought unto the test. 
Nor can I hold it worth his pains who tries 
To Inne that Harvest which by reaping dies. 100 

Resolve me now what spirit hath delight, 
If by full feed you kill the appetite? 
That stomack healthy'st is, that nere was cloy'd, 
W^hy not that Love the best then, nere enjoy'd? 
Since nat'rally the blood, when tam'd or sated, 105 

Will cool so fast it leaves the object hated. 
Pleasures like wonders quickly lose their price 
When Reason or Experience makes us wise. 



[72] 



THE CHANGE 



To close my argument then. I dare say 

(And without Paradox) as well we may 110 

Enjoy our Love and yet preserve Desire, 

As warm our hands by putting out the fire. 

The Change 

II sabio mude conseio: II loco persevera. 

We lov'd as friends now twenty years and more: 
Is't time or reason think 5^ou to give o're ? 
When though two prentiships set Jacob free, 
I have not held my Rachel dear at three. 

Yet will I not your levitie accuse; 5 

Continuance sometimes is the worse abuse. 
In judgment I might rather hold it strange, 
If like the fleeting world, you did not change: 
Be it your wisdom therefore to retract. 
When perseverance oft is follies act. 10 

In pity I can think, that what you do 
Hath Justice in't, and some Religion too ; 
For of all vertues Morall or Divine, 
We know but Love none must in Heaven shine : 
Well did you the presumption then foresee 15 

Of counterfeiting immortalitie : 
Since had you kept our loves too long alive. 
We might invade Heavens prerogative; 
Or in our progress, like the Jews, comprise 
The Legend of an earthly Paradise. 20 

[73] 



POEMS 



Live happy and more prosperous in the next, 
You have discharg'd your old friend by the Text. 
Farewel fair Shadow of a female faith, 
And let this be our friendships Epitaph: 

Affection shares the frailty of our fate, 25 

When (like our selves) 'tis old and out of date: 
'Tis just all humane Loves their period have. 
When friends are frail and dropping to the grave. 



To my Sister Anne King, who chid me in verse 
for being angry. 

Dear Nan, I would not have thy counsel lost, 

Though I last night had twice so much been crost; 

Well is a Passion to the Market brought. 

When such a treasure of advice is bought 

With so much dross. And could'st thou me assure, 5 

Each vice of mine should meet with such a cure, 

I would sin oft, and on my guilty brow 

Wear every misperfection that I ow, 

Open and visible ; I should not hide 

But bring my faults abroad: to hear thee chide 10 

In such a Note, and with a Quill so sage. 

It Passion tunes, and calmes a Tempests rage. 

Well I am charm'd, and promise to redress 
What, without shrift, my follies doe confess 
Against my self: wherefore let me intreat, 15 

When I fly out in that distemper'd heat 

[74] 



AN ELEGY 



Which frets me into fasts, thou wilt reprove 

That froward spleen in Poetry and Love: 

So though I lose my reason In such fits, 

Thoul't rime me back again Into my wits. 20 



AN ELEGY 

Upon the immature loss of the most vertuous 
Lady Anne Rich. 

I envy not thy mortal triumphs. Death, 

(Thou enemy to Vertue as to Breath) 

Nor do I wonder much, nor yet complain 

The weekly numbers by thy arrow slain. 

The whole world Is thy Factory, and we 5 

Like traffick driven and retall'd by Thee: 

And where the springs of life fill up so fast, 

Some of the waters needs must run to waste. 

It is confest, yet must our griefs dispute 
That which thine own conclusion doth refute 10 

Ere we begin. Hearken ! for if thy ear 
Be to thy throat proportion'd, thou canst hear. 
Is there no order in the work of Fate ? 
Nor rule, but blindly to anticipate 

Our growing seasons? or think'st thou 'tis just, 15 

To sprinkle our fresh blossomes with thy dust, 
Till by abortive funerals, thou bring 
That to an Autumn Nature meant a Spring? 

[75] 



POEMS 



Is't not enough for thee that wither'd age 

Lies the unpiti'd subject of thy rage; 20 

But like an ugly Amorist, thy crest 

Must be with spoyles of Youth and Beauty drest? 

In other camps, those which sate down to day 

March first to morrow, and they longest stay 

Who last came to the service : But in thine, 25 

Onely confusion stands for discipline. 

We fall in such promiscuous heaps, none can 

Put any diff'rence 'twixt thy Rear or Van ; 

Since oft the youngest lead thy Files. For this 

The grieved world here thy accuser is, 30 

And I a Plaintiff, 'mongst those many ones 

Who wet this Ladies Urn with zealous moanes; 

As if her ashes quick'ning into years 

Might be again embody'd by our tears 

But all in vain ; the moisture we bestow 35 

Shall make assoon her curled Marble grow, 

As render heat, or motion to that blood. 

Which through her veins branch't like an azure flood ; 

Whose now still Current in the grave is lost, 

Lock't up, and fetter'd by eternal frost. 40 

Desist from hence, doting Astrology ! 
To search for hidden wonders in the sky; 
Or from the concourse of malignant starres 
Foretel diseases gen'ral as our warres: 
What barren droughts, forerunners of lean dearth 45 

Threaten to starve the plenty of the earth : 



[76] 



AN ELEGY 



What horrid forms of darkness must affright 

The sickly world, hast'ning to that long night 

Where it must end. If there no Portents are, 

No black eclipses for the Kalendar, 50 

Our times sad Annals will remembred be 

Ith'loss of bright Northumberland and Thee: 

Two Starr es of Courts who in one fatal year 

By most untimely set dropt from their Sphear. 

Shee in the winter took her flight, and soon 55 

As her perfections reach't the point of Noon, 

Wrapt in a cloud, contracted her wisht stay 

Unto the measure of a short-liv'd day. 

But Thou in Summer, like an early Rose 

By Deaths cold hand nipp'd as Thou didst disclose, 60 

Took'st a long day to run that narrow stage. 

Which in two gasping minutes summ'd thy age. 

And, as the fading Rose, when the leaves shed 

Lies in Its native sweetness buried. 

Thou in thy vertues bedded and Inherst 65 

Sleep'st with those odours thy pure fame disperst. 

Where till that Rising Morn thou must remain. 

In which thy wither'd flowres shall spring again. 

And greater beauties thy wak't body vest 

Then were at thy departure here possest. 70 

So with full eyes we close thy vault. Content 
(With what thy loss bequeaths us) to lament, 
And make that use of thy griev'd funerall, 
As of a Chrystall broken in the fall ; 



[77] 



POEMS 



Whose pitti'd fractures gather'd up, and set, 75 

May smaller Mirrours for Thy Sex beget; 
There let them view themselves, untill they see 
The end of all their glories shew'n In Thee. 

Whll'st In the truth of this sad tribute, I 
Thus strive to Canonize thy Memory. 80 

AN ELEGY 

Upon Mrs. Kirk unfortunately drowned in 
Thames. 

For all the Shlp-vi^racks, and the liquid graves 
Lost men have galn'd within the furrow'd vraves, 
The Sea hath fin'd and for our vi^rongs paid use, 
When its wrought foam a Venus did produce. 

But what repair wilt thou unhappy Thames 5 

Afford our losse? thy dull unactive streames 
Can no new beauty raise, nor yet restore 
Her who by thee was ravisht from our shorei 
Whose death hath stain'd the glory of thy flood. 
And mixt the guilty Channel with her blood. 10 

O Neptune! was thy favour onely writ 
In that loose Element where thou dost sit ? 
That after all this time thou should'st repent 
Thy fairest blessing to the Continent? 
Say, what could urge this Fate? Is Thetis dead, 15 

Or Amphitrite from thy wet armes fled? 

[78] 



AN ELEGY 



Was't thou so poor in Nymphs, that thy moist love 

Must be maintain'd with pensions from above? 

If none of these, but that whil'st thou did'st sleep 

Upon thy sandy pillow in the deep, 20 

This mischief stole upon us: may our grief 

Waken thy just revenge on that slie thief, 

Who in thy fluid Empire without leave, 

And unsuspected, durst her life bereave. 

Henceforth invert thy order, and provide 25 

In gentlest floods a Pilot for our guide. 

Let rugged Seas be lov'd, but the Brooks smile 

Shunn'd like the courtship of a Crocodile; 

And where the Current doth most smoothly pass, 

Think for her sake that stream deaths Looking-glass, 30 

To shew us our destruction is most neer, 

When pleasure hath begot least sense of fear. 

Else break thy forked Scepter 'gainst some Rock, 
If thou endure a flatt'ring calm to mock 
Thy far-fam'd pow'r, and violate that law 35 

Which keeps the angry Ocean in aw. 
Thy Trident will grov/ useless, which doth still 
Wild tempests, if thou let tame rivers kill. 

Mean time we ow thee nothing. Our first debt 
Lies cancell'd in thy watry Cabinet. 40 

We have for Her thou sent'st us from the Main, 
Return'd a Venus back to thee again. 



[79] 



POEMS 



AN ELEGY 

Upon the death of Mr, Edward Holt. 

Whether thy Fathers, or diseases rage, 

More mortal prov'd to thy unhappy age, 

Our sorrow needs not question; since the first 

Is known for length and sharpness much the worst. 

Thy Feaver yet was kind ; which the ninth day 5 

For thy misfortunes made an easie way. 

When th 'other barbarous and Hectick fit, 

In nineteen winters did not intermit. 

I therefore vainly now not ask thee why 
Thou didst so soon in thy Youths mid-way dy: 10 

But in my sence the greater wonder make 
Thy long oppressed heart no sooner brake. 
Of force must the neglected blossom fall 
When the tough root becomes unnaturall. 
And to his branches doth that sap deny, 15 

Which them with life and verdure should supply. 
For Parents shame, let it forgotten be. 
And may the sad example die with thee. 

It is not now thy grieved friends intent 
To render thee dull Pities argument. 20 

Thou hast a bolder title unto fame. 
And at Edge-Hill thou didst make good the claime; 
When in thy Royal Masters Cause and Warre 
Thy ventur'd life brought ofiE a noble skarre. 
Nor did thy faithful services desist .25 

Till death untimely strook thee from the List. 

[80] 



TO MY DEAD FRIEND BEN: JOHNSON 

Though in that prouder vault then, which doth tomb 
Thy ancestors, thy body find not room. 
Thine own deserts have purchas'd thee a place, 
Which more renowned is then all thy race ; 30 

For in this earth thou dost ennobled ly 
With marks of Valour and of Loyalty. 

To my dead friend Ben: Johnson. 

I see that wreath which doth the wearer arm 

'Gainst the quick strokes of thunder, is no charm 

To keep off deaths pale dart. For, Johnson then 

Thou hadst been number'd still with living men. 

Times sithe had fear'd thy Lawrel to invade, 5 

Nor thee this subject of our sorrow made. 

Amongst those many votaries who come 
To offer up their Garlands at thy Tombe; 
Whil'st some more lofty pens in their bright verse 
(Like glorious Tapers flaming on thy herse) 10 

Shall light the dull and thankless world to see. 
How great a maim it suffers wanting thee ; 
Let not thy learned shadow scorn, that I 
Pay meaner Rites unto thy memory ; 

And since I nought can adde, but in desire 15 

Restore some sparks which leapt from thine own fire. 

What ends soever others quills invite, 
I can protest, it was no itch to write, 
Nor any vain ambition to be read, 
But meerly Love and Justice to the dead 20 

[81] 



POEMS 



Which rais'd my fameless Muse ; and caus'd her bring 
These drops, as tribute thrown into that spring, 
To whose most rich and fruitful head we ow 
The purest streams of language which can flow. 

For 'tis but truth, thou taught'st the ruder age 25 

To speake by Grammar, and reform'dst the Stage : 
Thy Comick Sock induc'd such purged sence, 
A Lucrece might have heard without offence. 
Amongst those soaring wits that did dilate 
Our English, and advance it to the rate 30 

And value it now holds, thy self was one 
Helpt lift it up to such proportion. 
That thus refin'd and roab'd, it shall not spare 
With the full Greek or Latine to compare. 
For what tongue ever durst, but ours, translate 35 

Great Tully's Eloquence, or Homejs State? 
Both which in their unblemisht lustre shine, 
From ChapTnans pen, and from thy Catiline. 
All I would ask for thee, in recompence 
Of thy successful toyl and times expence, 40 

Is onely this poor Boon : that those who can 
Perhaps read French, or talk Italian, 
Or do the lofty Spaniard affect ; 
To shew their skill in Forrein Dialect, 
Prove not themselves so unnaturally wise, 45 

They therefore should their Mother-tongue despise. 
(As if her Poets both for style and wit 
Not equall'd, or not pass'd their best that writ) 



[82] 



UPON PRINCE HENRY'S DEATH 



Untlll by studying Johnson they have known 

The height and strength and plenty of their own. 50 

Thus in what low earth or neglected room 
Soere thou sleep'st, thy book shall be thy tomb. 
Thou wilt go down a happy Coarse, bestrew'd 
With thine own Flowres ; and feel thy self renew'd, 
Whil'st thy immortal never-with'ring Bayes 55 

Shall yearly flourish in thy Readers praise. 
And when more spreading Titles are forgot, 
Or spight of all their Lead and Sear-cloth rot. 
Thou wrapt and Shrin'd in thine own sheets, wilt ly 
A Relick fam'd by all Posterity. 60 



AN ELEGY 

Upon Prince Henry^s death. 

Keep station Nature, and rest Heaven sure 

On thy supporters shoulders, lest past cure, 

Thou dasht in ruine fall by a griefs weight 

Will make thy basis shrink, and lay thy height 

Low as the Center. Heark! and feel it read 5 

Through the astonisht Kingdom, Henry's dead. 

It is enough ; who seeks tc aggravate 

One strain beyond this, piove more sharp his fate 

Then sad our doom. The world dares not survive 

To parallel this woes superlative. 10 

O killing Rhetorick of Death ! two words 

Breathe stronger terrours then Plague, Fire, or Swords 

[83] 



POEMS 



Ere conquer'd. This were Epitaph and Verse 

Worthy to be prefixt in Natures herse, 

Or Earths sad dissolution; whose fall 15 

Will be less grievous though more generall : 

For all the woe ruine ere buried, 

Sounds in these fatal accents, Henry's dead. 

Cease then unable Poetry, thy phrase 

Is weak and dull to strike us with amaze 20 

Worthy thy vaster subject. Let none dare 

To coppy this sad hap, but with despair 

Hanging at his quills point. For not a stream 

Of Ink can write much less improve this Theam. 

Invention highest wrought by grief or wit 25 

Must sink with him, and on his Tomb-stone split. 

Who, like the dying Sun, tells us the light 

And glory of our Day set in his Night. 



AN ELEGY 

Upon S. W. R. 

I will not weep, for 'twere as great a sin 
To shed a tear for thee, as to have bin 
An Actor in thy death. Thy life and age 
Was but a various Scene on fortunes Stage, 
With whom thou tugg'st & strov'st ev'n out of breath 
In thy long toil : nere master'd till thy death ; 
And then despight of trains and cruell wit. 
Thou did'st at once subdue malice and it. 

[84] 



UPON THE L. BISHOP OF LONDON 



I dare not then so blast thy memory 
As say I do lament or pity thee. 10 

Were I to choose a subject to bestow 
My pity on, he should be one as low 
In spirit as desert. That durst not dy 
But rather were content by slavery 

To purchase life: or I would pity those 15 

Thy most industrious and friendly foes: 
Who when they thought to make thee scandals story 
Lent thee a swifter flight to Heav'n and glory. 
That thought by cutting off some wither'd dayes, 
(Which thou could 'st spare them) to eclipse thy praise; 20 
Yet gave it brighter foil, made thy ag'd fame 
Appear more white and fair, then foul their shame : 
And did promote an Execution 
Which (but for them) Nature and Age had done. 

Such worthless things as these were onely born 25 

To live on Pities almes (too mean for scorn.) 
Thou dy'dst an envious wonder, whose high fate 
The world must still admire, scarce imitate. 

AN ELEGY 

Upon the L. Bishop of London 
John King. 

Sad Relick of a blessed Soul ! whose trust 
We sealed up in this religious dust. 
O do not thy low Exequies suspect 
As the cheap arguments of our neglect. 

[85] 



POEMS 



'Twas a commanded duty that thy grave 5 

As little pride as thou thy self should have. 

Therefore thy covering is an humble stone, 
And but a word for thy inscription. 
When those that in the same earth neighbour thee, 
Have each his Chronicle and Pedigree: 10 

They have their weaving pennons and their flagges, 
(Of Matches and Alliance formal bragges.) 
When thou (although from Ancestors thou came 
Old as the Heptarchy, great as thy Name) 
Sleep'st there inshrin'd in thy admired parts, 15 

And hast no Heraldry but thy deserts. 
Yet let not Them their prouder Marbles boast. 
For They rest with less honour, though more cost. 

Go, search the world, and with your Mattox wound 
The groaning bosom of the patient ground : 20 

Digge from the hidden veins of her dark womb 
All that is rare and precious for a tomb : 
Yet when much treasure, and more time is spent 
You must grant His the nobler Monument. 

Whose Faith stands ore Him for a Hearse, and hath 25 
The Resurrection for His Epitaph. 



Upon the death of my ever de sirred friend 
Doctor Donne Dean of Pauls. 

To have liv'd eminent in a degreee 
Beyond our lofty 'st flights, that is like thee ; 

[86] 



UPON THE DEATH OF MY FRIEND 



Or t'have had too much merit Is not safe ; 

For such excesses find no Epitaph. 

At common graves we have Poetick eyes 5 

Can melt themselves In easle Elegies; 

Each quill can drop his tributary verse, 

And pin It with the Hatchments, to the Herse : 

But at thine. Poem or Inscription 

(Rich Soul of wit and language:) we have none; 10 

Indeed a silence does that Tomb befit 

Where Is no Herald left to blazon It. 

WIddow'd Invention justly doth forbear 

To come abroad knowing thou art not here, 

Late her great Patron; whose prerogative 15 

Malntaln'd and cloth'd her so, as none alive 

Must now presume to keep her at thy rate. 

Though he the Indies for her dowre estate: 

Or else that awful fire, which once did burn 

In thy clear brain, now fall'n Into thy Urn. 20 

Lives there to fright rude Emperlcks from thence, 

Which might profane thee by their Ignorance: 

Who ever writes of thee, and In a style 

Unworthy such a Theme, does but revile 

Thy precious dust, and wake a learned spirit 25 

Which may revenge his rapes upon thy merit. 

For all a low-pltcht fancle can devise. 

Will prove at best but hallow'd Injuries. 

Thou, like the dying Swan, didst lately sing 
Thy mournful Dirge in audience of the King; 30 



[87] 



POEMS 



When pale looks, and faint accents of thy breath, 

Presented so to life that piece of death. 

That it was fear'd and prophesi'd by all 

Thou thither cam'st to preach thy Funerall. 

O ! hadst thou in an Elegiack knell 35 

Rung out unto the world thine own farewell; 

And in thy high victorious numbers beat 

The solemn measure of thy griev'd retreat: 

Thou might'st the Poets service now have mist, 

As well as then thou didst prevent the Priest : 40 

And never to the world beholden be, 

So much as for an Epitaph for thee. 

I do not like the office. Nor is't fit 
Thou, who didst lend our age such summes of wit, 
Should'st now reborrow from her Bankrupt Mine 45 
That Ore to bury thee, which once was thine. 
Rather still leave us in thy debt ; and know 
( Exalted Soul ! ) More glory 'tis to ow 
Unto thy Herse what we can never pay. 
Then with embased coin those Rites defray. 50 

Commit we then Thee to Thy self : nor blame 
Our drooping loves, which thus to thine own fame 
Leave Thee Executour : since but thy own 
No pen could do Thee Justice, nor Bayes crown 
Thy vast desert ; save that we nothing can 55 

Depute to be thy ashes Guardian. 

So Jewellers no Art or Metal trust 

To form the Diamond, but the Diamonds dust. 

[88] 



THE MOST VICTORIOUS KING OF SWEDEN 



AN ELEGY 

Upon the most victorious King of Sweden 
Gustavus Adolphus, 

Like a cold fatal sweat which ushers death 

My thoughts hang on me, & my lab'ring breath 

Stopt up with sighs, my fancie big with woes, 

Feels two twinn'd mountains struggle in her throws, 

Of boundless sorrow one, t'other of sin ; 5 

For less let no one rate it to begin 

Where honour ends. In Great Gustavus flame 

That style burnt out, and wasted to a name. 

Does barely live with us. As w^hen the stuff 

That fed it failes, the Taper turns to snuff. 10 

With this poor snuff, this ayerie shadow, we 

Of Fame and Honour must contented be; 

Since from the vain grasp af our wishes fled 

Their glorious substance is, now He is dead. 

Speak it again, and louder, louder yet; 15 

Else whil'st we hear the sound we shall forget 
What it delivers. Let hoarse rumor cry 
Till she so many ecchoes multiply, 
Those may like num'rous witnesses confute 
Our unbelieving soules, that would dispute 20 

And doubt this truth for ever. This one way 
Is left our incredulity to sway; 
To waken our deaf sense, and make our ears 
As open and dilated as our fears ; 

[89] 



POEMS 



That we may feel the blow, and feeling grieve, 25 

At what we would not feign, but must believe. 

And in that horrid faith behold the world 

From her proud height of expectation hurl'd, 

Stooping with him, as if she strove to have 

No lower Center now then Swedens grave. 30 

O could not all thy purchas'd victories 
Like to thy Fame thy Flesh immortalize? 
Were not thy vertue nor thy valour charmes 
To guard thy body from those outward harmes 
Which could not reach thy soul ? could not thy spirit 35 
Lend somewhat which thy frailty might inherit 
From thy diviner part, that Death nor Hate 
Nor envy's bullets ere could penetrate? 
Could not thy early Trophies in stern fight 
Torn from the Dane, the Pole, the Moscovitef 40 

Which were thy triumphs seeds, as pledges sown. 
That when thy honours harvest was ripe grown. 
With full-summ'd wing thou Falcon-like wouldst fly 
And cuff the Eagle in the German sky: 
Forcing his iron beak and feathers feel 45 

They were not proof 'gainst thy victorious steel. 
Could not all these protect thee ? or prevaile 
To fright that Coward Death, who oft grew pale 
To look thee and thy battails in the face ? 
Alas they could not : Destiny gives place 50 

To none ; nor is it seen that Princes lives 
Can saved be by their prerogatives. 



[90] 



THE MOST VICTORIOUS KING OF SWEDEN 

No more was thine ; who clos'd in thy cold lead, 

Dost from thy self a mournful lecture read 

Of Mans short-dated glory: learn you Kings, 55 

You are like him but penetrable things ; 

Though you from Demi-Gods derive your birth, 

You are at best but honourable earth: 

And howere sifted from that courser bran 

Which does compound and knead the common man, 60 

Nothing's immortal or from earth refin'd 

About you, but your Office and your Mind. 

Here then break your false Glasses, which present 

You greater then your Maker ever meant: 

Make truth j^our Mirrour now, since you find all 65 

That flatter you confuted by his fall. 

Yet since it was decreed thy lifes bright Sun 
Must be eclips'd ere thy full course was run. 
Be proud thou didst in thy black Obsequies 
With greater glory set then others rise. 70 

For in thy death, as life, thou heldest one 
Most just and regular proportion. 
Look how the Circles drawn by Compass meet 
Indivisibly joyned head to feet, 

And by continued points which them unite 75 

Grow at once Circular and Infinite : 
So did thy Fate and honour now contend 
To match thy brave beginning with thy end. 
Therefore thou hadst instead of Passing bells 
The Drums and Cannons thunder for thy knells; 80 



[91] 



POEMS 



And in the Field thou did'st triumphing dy, 

Closing thy eye-lids with a victory: 

That so by thousands who there lost their breath 

King-like thou might'st be waited on in death. 

Liv'd Plutarch now, and would of Caesar tell, 85 

He could make none but Thee his parallel ; 

Whose tide of glory swelling to the brim 

Needs borrow no addition from Him. 

When did great Julius in any Clime 

Atchieve so much and in so small a time ? 90 

Or if he did, yet shalt Thou in that land 

Single for him and unexampled stand. 

When ore the Germans first his Eagle towr'd 

What saw the Legions which on them he pour'd? 

But massie bodies, made their swords to try 95 

Subjects not for his fight, but slavery. 

In that so vast expanded peece of ground 

(Now Swedens Theater and Tomb) he found 

Nothing worth Caesars valour, or his fear, 

No conqu'ring Army, nor a Tilley there, 100 

Whose strength nor wiles, nor practice in the warre 

Might the fierce Torrent of thy triumphs barre, 

But that thy winged sword twice made him yield, 

Both from his trenches beat, and from the field. 

Besides the Romane thought he Lad done much 105 

Did he the bank of Rhenus onely touch. 
But though his march was bounded by the Rhine 
Not Oder nor the Danube Thee confine; 



[92] 



THE MOST VICTORIOUS KING OF SWEDEN 



And but thy frailty did thy fame prevent, 

Thou hadst thy conquests strecht to such extent, 110 

Thou might'st Vienna reach, and after span 

From Mulda to the Baltick Ocean. 

But death hath spann'd thee : nor must we divine 
What heir thou leav'st to finish thy design. 
Or who shall thee succeed as Champion 115 

For liberty and for religion. 

Thy task is done ; as in a Watch the spring 
Wound to the height, relaxes with the string: 
So thy steel nerves of conquest, from their steep 
Ascent declin'd, lie slackt in thy last sleep. 120 

Rest then triumphant soul ! for ever rest ! 
And, like the Phoenix in her spicy nest, 
Embalm'd with thine own merit, upward fly, 
Born in a cloud of perfume to the sky. 
Whil'st, as in deathless Urnes, each noble mind 125 

Treasures thy ashes which are left behind. 

And if perhaps no Cassiopeian spark 
(Which in the North did thy first rising mark) 
Shine ore thy Herse: the breath of our just praise 
Shall to the Firmament thy vertues raise; 130 

Then fix, and kindle them into a Starre, 
Whose influence may crown thy glorious warre. 

. . . . O Famd ingens ingentior armis 

Rex Gustave, quibus Coelo te laudibus aequem? 

Virgil. Aeneid. lib, 2. 

[93] 



POEMS 



To my Noble and Judicious Friend 

Sir Henry Blount upon his 

Voyage. 

Sir, I must ever own my self to be 

Possest with humane curlositle 

Of seeing all that might the sense invite 

By those two baits of profit and delight : 

And since I had the wit to understand 5 

The terms of Native or of forreign land ; 

I have had strong and oft desires to tread 

Some of those voyages which I have read. 

Yet still so fruitless have my wishes prov'd, 

That from my Countreys smoke I never mov'd: 10 

Nor ever had the fortune (though designed) 

To satlsfie the wandrings of my mind. 

Therefore at last I did with some content, 

Beguile my self in time, which others spent ; 

Whose art to Provinces small lines allots, 15 

And represents large Kingdomes but in spots. 

Thus by Ortelius and Mercators aid 

Through most of the discover'd world I strai'd. 

I could with ease double the Southern Cape, 

And in my passage A jf ricks wonders take : 20 

Then with a speed proportion'd to the Scale 

Northward again, as high as Zemla sayl. 

Oft hath the travel of my eye outrun 

(Though I sat still) the journey of the Sun: 

Yet made an end, ere his declining beams 25 

Did nightly quench themselves in Thetis streams. 

[94] 



TO SIR HENRY BLOUNT UPON HIS VOYAGE 

Oft have I gone through Aegypt in a day, 

Not hinder'd by the droughts of Lybia; 

In which, for lack of water tides of sand 

By a dry deluge overflow the land. 30 

There I the Pyramids and Cairo see, 

Still famous for the warres of Tomotnbeej 

And its own greatness; whose immured fence 

Takes fourty miles in the circumference. 

Then without guide, or stronger Caravan 35 

Which might secure the wild Arabian, 

Back through the scorched Desarts pass, to seek 

Once the worlds Lord, now the beslaved Greeks 

Made by a Turkish yoak and fortunes hate 

In language as in mind, degenerate. 40 

And here all wrapt in pity and amaze 
I stand, whil'st I upon the Sultan gaze ; 
To think how he with pride and rapine fir'd 
So vast a Territory hath acquir'd ; 
And by what daring steps he did become 45 

The Asian fear, and scourge of Christendome : 
How he atchiev'd, and kept, and by what arts 
He did concenter those divided parts ; 
And how he holds that monstrous bulk in aw, 
By setled rules of tyrannie, not Law : 50 

So Rivers large and rapid streams began. 
Swelling from drops into an Ocean. 

Sure who ere shall the just extraction bring 
Of this Gigantick power from the spring; 

[95] 



POEMS 



Must there confess a higher Ordinance 55 

Did it for terrour to the earth advance. 

For mark how 'mongst a lawless straggling crew 

Made up of Arabj Saracen, and Jew, 

The worlds disturber, faithless Mahomet 

Did by Impostures an opinion get: 60 

O're whom he first usurps as Prince, and than 

As Prophet does obtrude his Alcoran. 

Next, how fierce Ottoman his claim made good 

From that unblest Religion, by blood ; 

Whil'st he the Eastern Kingdomes did deface, 65 

To make their ruine his proud Empires base. 

Then like a Comet blazing in the skies, 

How Death-portending Amurath did rise, 

When he his horned Crescents did display 

Upon the fatal Plains of Servia; 70 

And farther still his sanguin tresses spread, 

Till Croya Life and Conquests limited. 

Lastly, how Mahomet thence styl'd the Great, 

Made Constantines his own Imperial Seat; 

After that he in one victorious bond 75 

Two Empires graspt, of Greece and Trabezond, 

This, and much more then this, I gladly read, 
Where my relators it had storj^ed ; 
Besides that Peoples Manners and their Rites, 
Their warlike discipline and order'd fights ; 80 

Their desp'rate valour, hardned by the sence 
Of unavoided Fate and Providence : 



[96] 



TO SIR HENRY BLOUNT UPON HIS VOYAGE 



Their habit, and their houses, who confer 

Less cost on them then on their Sepulchre : 

Their frequent washings, and the several Bath 85 

Each Meschit to it self annexed hath : 

What honour they unto the Mufty give, 

What to the Soveraign under whom they live : 

What quarter Christians have; how just and free 

To inoffensive Travellers they be: 90 

Though I confess, like stomacks fed with news, 

I took them in for wonder, not for use, 

Till your experienc'd and authentick pen 

Taught me to know the places and the men; 

And made all those suspected truths become 95 

Undoubted now, and cleer as Axiom. 

Sir, for this work more then my thanks is due; 
I am at once inform'd and cur'd by you. 
So that, were I assur'd I should live o're 
My periods of time run out before; 100 

Nere needed my erratick wish transport 
Me from my Native lists to that resort, 
Where many at outlandish Marts unlade 
Ingenuous manners, and do onely trade 
For vices and the language. By your eyes 105 

I here have made my full discoveries; 
And all your Countreys so exactly seen. 
As in the voyage I had sharer been. 
By this you make me so ; and the whole land 
Your debtour : which can onely understand 110 

[97] 



POEMS 



How much she owes j^ou, when her sons shall try 

The solid depths of your rare history, 

Which looks above our gadders trivial reach, 

The Common Place of travellers, who teach 

But Table-talk; and seldomly aspire 115 

Beyond the Countres Dyet or Attire; 

Whereas your piercing judgement does relate 

The Policy and Manage of each State. 

And since she must here without envy grant 

That you have further journey'd the Levant 120 

Then any noble spirit by her bred 

Hath in your way as yet adventured; 

I cannot less in justice from her look, 

Then that she henceforth Canonize your book 

A Rule to all her travellers, and yo\i 125 

The brave example ; from whose equal view 

Each knowing Reader may himself direct, 

How he may go abroad to some effect. 

And not for form : what distance and what trust 

In those remoter parts observe he must: 130 

How he with jealous people may converse. 

Yet take no hurt himself by that commerce. 

So when he shall imbark'd in dangers be. 

Which wit and wary caution not foresee; 

If he partake your valour and your brain, 135 

He may perhaps come safely off again. 

As you have done ; though not so richly fraught 

As this return hath to our Staple brought. 



[98] 



TO MY FRIEND, MR. GEORGE SANDYS 

I know your modesty shuns vulgar praise, 
And I have none to bring: but onely raise 140 

This monument of Honour and of Love, 
Which your long known deserts so far improve, 
They leave me doubtfull in what style to end, 
Whether more your admirer or your friend. 



To my honoured Friend Mr. George 
Sandys, 

It is. Sir, a confest intrusion here 

That I before your labours do appear. 

Which no loud Herald need, that may proclaim 

Or seek acceptance, but the Authors fame. 

Much less that should this happy work commend, 5 

Whose subject is its licence, and doth send 

It to the world to be receiv'd and read. 

Far as the glorious beams of truth are spread. 

Nor let it be imagin'd that I look 
Onely with Customes eye upon your book; 10 

Or in this service that 'twas my intent 
T'exclude your person from your argument: 
I shall profess much of the love I ow. 
Doth from the root of our extraction grow; 
To which though I can little contribute, 15 

Yet with a naturall joy I must impute 
To our Tribes honour, what by you is done 
Worthy the title of a Prelates son. 

[99] 



POEMS 



And scarcely have two brothers farther borne 
A Fathers name, or with more value worne 20 

Their own, then two of you ; whose pens and feet 
Have made the distant Points of Heav'n to meet; 
He by exact discoveries of the West, 
Your self by painful travels in the East. 

Some more like you might pow'rfully confute 25 

Th'opposers of Priests marriage by the fruit. 
And (since tis known for all their streight vow'd life, 
They like the sex in any style but wife) 
Cause them to change their Cloyster for that State 
Which keeps men chaste by vowes legitimate: 30 

Nor shame to father their relations, 
Or under Nephews names disguise their sons. 
This Child of yours born without spurious blot, 
And fairly Midwiv'd as it was begot. 
Doth so much of the Parents goodness wear, 35 

You may be proud to own it for your Heir. 
Whose choice acquits you from the common sin 
Of such, who finish worse then they begin: 
You mend upon j^our self, and your last strain 
Does of your first the start in judgment gain; 40 

Since what in curious travel was begun. 
You here conclude in a devotion. 

Where in delightful raptures we descry 
As in a Map, Sions Choj'ography 

Laid out in so direct and smooth a line, 45 

Men need not go about through Palestine: 

[100] 



TO MY FRIEND, MR. GEORGE SANDYS 



Who seek Christ here will the streight Rode prefer, 

As neerer much then by the Sepulchre. 

For not a limb growes here, but is a path ; 

Which in Gods City the blest Center hath : 50 

And doth so sweetly on each passion strike, 

The most fantastick taste will somewhat like. 

To the unquiet soul Job still from hence 

Pleads in th'example of his patience. 

The mortify'd may hear the wise King preach, 55 

When his repentance made him. fit to teach. 

Nor shall the singing Sisters be content 

To chant at home the Act of Parliament, 

Turn'd out of reason into rhime by one 

Free of his trade, though not of Helicon, 60 

Who did in his Poetick zeal contend 

Others edition by a worse to mend. 

Here are choice Hymnes and Carolls for the glad, 

With melancholy Dirges for the sad : 

And David (as \\e could his skill transfer) 65 

Speaks like himself by an interpreter. 

Your Muse rekindled hath the Prophets fire. 

And tun'd the strings of his neglected Lyre ; 

Making the Note and Ditty so agree, 

They now become a perfect harmonic. 70 

I must confess, I have long wisht to see 
The Psalmes reduc'd to this conformity: 
Grieving the songs of Sion should be sung 
In phrase not diff'ring from a barbarous tongue. 

[101] 



POEMS 



As If, by custome warranted, we may 75 

Sing that to God we would be loth to say. 

Far be it from my purpose to upbraid 

Their honest meaning, who first offer made 

That book in Meeter to compile, which you 

Have mended in the form, and built anew : 80 

And it was well, considering the time, 

Which hardly could distinguish verse and rhime. 

But now the language, like the Church, hath won 

More lustre since the Reformation ; 

None can condemn the wish or labour spent 85 

Good matter in good words to represent. 

Yet in this jealous age some such there be. 
So without cause afraid of novelty, 
They would not (were it in their pow'r to choose) 
An old ill practise for a better lose. 90 

Men who a rustick plainnesse so affect. 
They think God served best by their neglect. 
Holding the cause would be profan'd by it. 
Were they at charge of learning or of wit. 
And therefore bluntly (what comes next) they bring 95 
Course and unstudy'd stuffs for offering; 
Which like th'old Tabernacles cov'ring are. 
Made up of Badgers skins, and of Goats haire. 
But these are Paradoxes they must use 
Their sloth and bolder ignorance t'excuse. 100 

Who would not laugh at one will naked go, 
'Cause in old hangings truth is pictur'd so? 

[102] 



THE IVOES OF ESAY 



Though plainness be reputed honours note, 

They mantles use to beautify the coat ; 

So that a curious (unaffected) dress 105 

Addes much unto the bodies comeliness : 

And wheresoere the subjects best, the sence 

Is better'd by the speakers eloquence. 

But, Sir, to you I shall no trophee raise 
From other mens detraction or dispraise: 110 

That Jewel never had inherent worth. 
Which askt such foils as these to set it forth. 
If any quarrel your attempt or style. 
Forgive them ; their own folly they revile. 
Since, 'gainst themselves, their factious envy shall 115 

Allow this work of yours Canonicall. 
Nor may you fear the Poets common lot, 
Read, and commended, and then quite forgot: 
The brazen Mines and Marble Rocks shall wast, 
When your foundation will unshaken last. 120 

'Tis fames best pay, that you your labours see 
By their immortal subject crowned be. 
For nere was writer in oblivion hid 
Who firm'd his name on such a Pyramid. 



The Woes of Esay. 

Woe to the worldly men whose covetous 
Ambition labours to joyn house to house, 
Lay field to field, till their inclosures edge 
The Plain, girdling a countrey with one hedge: 

[103] 



POEMS 



That leave no place unbought, no piece of earth 5 

Which they will not ingross, making a dearth 
Of all inhabitants, until they stand 
Unneighbour'd as unblest within their land. 

This sin cryes in Gods ear, who hath decreed 
The ground they sow shall not return the seed. 10 

They that unpeopled countreys to create 
Themselves sole Lords, made many desolate 
To build up their own house, shall find at last 
Ruine and fearful desolation cast 

Upon themselves. Their Mansion shall become 15 

A Desart, and their Palace prove a tombe. 
Their vines shall barren be, their land yield tares; 
Their house shall have no dwellers, they no heires. 

Woe unto those that with the morning Sun 
Rise to drink wine, and sit till he have run 20 

His weary course ; not ceasing untill night 
Have quencht their understanding with the light: 
Whose raging thirst, like fire, will not be tam'd. 
The more they poure the more they are inflam'd. 
Woe unto them that onely mighty are 25 

To wage with wine ; in which unhappy war 
They who the glory of the day have won. 
Must yield them foil'd and vanquisht by the tun. 
Men that live thus, as if they liv'd in jest. 
Fooling their time with Musick and a feast ; 30 

That did exile all sounds from their soft ear 
But of the harp, must this sad discord hear 

[104] 



THE WOES OF ESAY 



Compos'd in threats. The feet which measures tread 

Shall in captivity be fettered: 

Famine shall scourge them for their vast excess; 35 

And Hell revenge their monstrous drunkenness; 

Which hath enlarg'd it self to swallow such, 

Whose throats nere knew enough, though still too much. 

Woe unto those that countenance a sin. 
Siding with vice that it maj^ credit win. 40 

By their unhallow'd vote: that do benight 
The truth with errour, putting dark for light, 
And light for dark; that call an evil good, 
And would by vice have vertue understood : 
That with their frown can sowre an honest cause, 45 

Or sweeten any bad by their applause. 
That justify the wicked for reward; 
And void of morall goodness or regard. 
Plot with detraction to traduce the fame 
Of him whose merit hath enroll'd his name 50 

Among the just. Therefore Gods vengeful ire 
Glows on his people, and becomes a fire 
Whose greedy and exalted flame shall burn. 
Till they like straw or chaffe to nothing turn. 
Because they have rebell'd against the right, 55 

To God and Law perversly opposite, 
As Plants which Sun nor showres did ever bless, 
So shall their root convert to rottenness ; 
And their successions bud, in which they trust, 
Shall (like Gomorrahs fruit) moulder to dust. 60 

[105] 



POEMS 



Woe unto those that drunk with self-conceit, 
Value their own designs at such a rate 
Which humane wisdome cannot reach ; that sit 
Enthron'd, as sole Monopolists of wit : 
That out-look reason, and suppose the eye 65 

Of Nature blind to their discovery, 
Whil'st they a title make to understand 
What ever secret's bosom'd in the land. 
But God shall imp their pride, and let them see 
They are but fools in a sublime degree: 70 

He shall bring down and humble those proud eyes, 
In which false glasses onely they lookt wise : 
That all the world may laugh, and learn by it, 
There is no folly to pretended wit. 

Woe unto those that draw iniquity 75 

With cords, and by a vain security 
Lengthen the sinful trace, till their own chain 
Of many links form'd by laborious pain. 
Do pull them into Hell ; that as with lines 
And Cart-ropes drag on their unwilling crimes: 80 

Who, rather then they will commit no sin. 
Tempt all occasions to let it in. 
As if there were no God, who must exact 
The strict account for e'ry vicious fact ; 
Nor judgement after death. If any be, 85 

Let him make speed (say they) that we may see. 
Why is his work retarded by delay ? 
Why doth himself thus linger on the way? 

[106] 



THE WOES OF ESAY 



If there be any judge, or future doome, 

Let It and Him with speed together come. 90 

Unhappy men, that challenge and defie 
The coming of that dreadful Majestie! 
Better by much for you, he did reverse 
His purpos'd sentence on the Universe ; 
Or that the creeping minutes might adjourn 95 

Those flames in which you with the earth must burn ; 
That times revolting hand could lag the year, 
And so put back his day which is too near. 

Behold his sign's advanc'd like colours fly, 
To tell the world that his approch is nigh ; 100 

And in a furious march, he's coming on 
Swift as the raging inundation, 
To scowre the sinful world ; 'gainst which is bent 
Artillery that never can be spent : ( darts 

Bowes strung with vengeance, and flame-feather'd 105 
Headed with death, to wound transgressing hearts. 
His Chariot wheeles wrapt in the whirlewinds gyre, 
His horses hoov'd with flint, and shod with fire : 
In which amaze where ere they fix their eye, 
Or on the melting earth, or up on high 110 

To seek Heavens shrunk lights, nothing shall appear 
But night and horrour in their Hemisphere: 
Nor shall th'aff righted sence more objects know 
Then darkned skies above, and Hell below. 

[ 107 ] 



POEMS 



An Essay on Death and a Prison. 

A Prison is in all things like a grave, 

Where we no better priviledges have 

Then dead men, nor so good. The soul once fled 

Lives freer now, then when she was cloystered 

In walls of flesh ; and though she organs want 5 

To act her swift designs, yet all will grant 

Her faculties more clear, now separate, 

Then if the same conjunction, which of late 

Did marry her to earth, had stood in force, 

Uncapable of death, or of divorce: 10 

But an imprison'd mind, though living, dies, 

And at one time feels two captivities ; 

A narrow dungeon which her body holds, 

But narrower body which her self enfolds. 

Whil'st I in prison ly, nothing is free, 15 

Nothing enlarg'd but thought and miserie ; 

Though e'ry chink be stopt, the doors close barr'd, 

Despight of walls and locks, through e'ry ward 

These have their issues forth ; may take the aire, 

Though not for health, but onely to compare 20 

How wretched those men are who freedom want, 

By such as never suffer'd a restraint. 

In which unquiet travel could I find 

Ought that might settle my distemper'd mind, 

Or of some comfort make discovery 25 

It were a voyage well imploy'd : but I, 

Like our raw travellers that cross the seas 

To fetch home fashions or some worse disease, 

[108] 



AN ESSAY ON DEATH AND A PRISON 

Instead of quiet a new torture bring 

Home t'afflict me, malice and murmuring. 30 

What is't I envy not ? no dog nor fly 

But my desires prefer, and wish were I ; 

For they are free, or if they were like me, 

They had no sense to know calamitie. 

But in the grave no sparks of envy live, 35 

No hot comparisons that causes give 

Of quarrel, or that our affections move 

Any condition, save their own, to love. 

There are no objects there but shades and night, 

And yet that darkness better then the light. 40 

There lives a silent harmony, no jar 

Or discord can that sweet soft consort mar. 

The graves deaf ear is clos'd against all noise 

Save that which rocks must hear, the angels voice : 

Whose trump shall wake the world, and raise up men 45 

Who in earths bosom slept, bed-rid till then. 

What man then would, who on deaths pillow slumbers, 

Be re-inspir'd with life, though golden numbers 

Of bliss were pour'd into his breast; though he 

Were sure in change to gain a Monarchic ? 50 

A Monarchs glorious state compar'd with his. 

Less safe, less free, less firm, less quiet is. 

For nere was any Prince advanc't so high 

That he was out of reach of misery : 

Never did story yet a law report 55 

To banish fate or sorrow from his Court ; 

Where ere he moves by land, or through the Main, 

These go along sworn members of his train. 

[109] 



POEMS 



What medicine or what cordial can be got 25 

For thee, who poyson'st thy best antldot? 

Repentance Is thy bane, since thou by It 

Onely reviv'st the fault thou didst commit. 

Nor griev'st thou for the past, but art In pain 

For fear thou mayst not act It o're again. 30 

So that thy tears, like water spilt on lime, 

Serve not to quench, but to advance the crime. 

My blessed Saviour ! unto thee I file 
For help against this homebred tyrannle. 
Thou canst true sorrows In my soul imprint, 35 

And draw contrition from a breast of flint. 
Thou canst reverse this labyrinth of sin 
My wild affects and actions wander In. 
O guide my faith ! and by thy graces clew 
Teach me to hunt that kingdom at the view 40 

Where true joyes reign, which like their day shall last ; 
Those never clouded, nor that overcast. 



Being waked out of my sleep by a snuff of Candle 
which offended me, I thus thought. 

Perhaps 'twas but conceit. Erroneous sence ! 
Thou art thine own distemper and offence. 
Imagine then, that sick unwholsom steam 
Was thy corruption breath'd into a dream. 
Nor is It strange, when we In charnells dwell. 
That all our thoughts of earth and frailty smell. - 

[112] 



SIC VITA 



Man is a Candle, whose unhappy light 
Burns in the day, and smothers in the night. 
And as you see the dying taper waste, 
By such degrees does he to darkness haste. 10 

Here is the difE'rence : When our bodies lamps 
Blinded by age, or choakt with mortall damps, 
Now faint and dim and sickly 'gin to wink, 
And in their hollow sockets lowly sink ; 
When all our vital fires ceasing to burn, 15 

Leave nought but snuff and ashes in our Urn : 

God will restore those fallen lights again, 

And kindle them to an Eternal flame. 



Sic Vita. 

Like to the falling of a Starre; 

Or as the flights of Eagles are ; 

Or like the fresh springs gawdy hew; 

Or silver drops of morning dew; 

Or like a wind that chafes the flood ; 5 

Or bubbles which on water stood ; 

Even such is man, whose borrow'd light 

Is streight call'd in, and paid to night. 

The Wind blowes out; the Bubble dies; 

The Spring entomb' d in Autumn lies; 10 

The Dew dries up; the Starre is shot; 

The Flight is past; and Man forgot. 

[113] 



POEMS 



My Midnight Meditation. 

Ill busi'd man! why should'st thou take such care 

To lengthen out thy lif es short Kalendar ? 

When e'ry spectacle thou lookst upon 

Presents and acts thy execution. 

Each drooping season and each flower doth cry, 5 
Fool! as I fade and wither, thou must dy. 

The beating of thy pulse (when thou art well) 
Is just the tolling of thy Passing Bell : 
Night Is thy Hearse, whose sable Canopie 
Covers alike deceased day and thee. 10 

And all those weeping dewes which nightly fall, 
Are but the tears shed for thy funerall. 

A Penitential Hymne. 

Hearken O God unto a Wretches cryes 

Who low dejected at thy footstool lies. 

Let not the clamour of my heinous sin 

Drown my requests, which strive to enter In 

At those bright gates, which alwales open stand 5 

To such as beg remission at thy hand. 

Too well I know, if thou in rigour deal 
I can nor pardon ask, nor yet appeal : 
To my hoarse voice, heaven will no audience grant, 
But deaf as brass, and hard as adamant 10 

Beat back my words; therefore I bring to thee 
A gracious Advocate to plead for me. 

[114] 



AN ELEGY— OCCASIONED BY SICKNESS 

What though my leprous soul no Jordan can 
Recure, nor flouds of the lav'd Ocean 
Make clean? yet from my Saviours bleeding side 15 

Two large and m.edicinable rivers glide. 
Lordj wash me where those streams of life abound, 
And new Bethesdaes flow from ev'ry wound. 

If I this precious Lather may obtain, 
I shall not then despair for any stain ; 20 

I need no Gileads balm, nor oyl, nor shall 
I for the purifying Hyssop call: 
My spots will vanish in His purple flood, 
And crimson there turn white, though washt with blood. 

See Lord ! with broken heart and bended knee, 25 

How I address my humble suit to Thee ; 
O give that suit admittance to thy ears 
Which floats to thee not in my words but tears : 
And let my sinful soul this mercy crave 
Before I fall into the silent grave. 30 

AN ELEGY 
Occasioned by sickness. 

Well did the Prophet ask, Lord what is man? 
Implying by the question none can 
But God resolve the doubt, much less define 
What Elements this child of dust combine. 

Man is a stranger to himself, and knowes 5 

Nothing so naturally as his woes. 

[115] 



POEMS 



He loves to travel countreys, and confer 

The sides of Heavens vast Diameter: 

Delights to sit in Nile or Boetis lap, 

Before he hath sayl'd over his own Map ; 10 

By which means he returnes, his travel spent, 

Less knowing of himself then when he went. 

Who knowledge hunt kept under forrein locks, 

May bring home wit to hold a Paradox, 

Yet be fools still. Therefore might I advise, 15 

I would inform the soul before the eyes: 

Make man into his proper Opticks look, 

And so become the student and the book 

With his conception, his first leaf, begin ; 

What is he there but complicated sin ? 20 

When riper time, and the approaching birth 

Ranks him among the creatures of the earth, 

His wailing mother sends him forth to greet 

The light, wrapt in a bloudy winding sheet ; 

As if he came into the world to crave 25 

No place to dwell in, but bespeak a grave. 

Thus like a red and tempest-boading morn 
His dawning is: for being newly born 
He hayles th'ensuing storm with shrieks and cryes, 
And fines for his admission with wet eyes: 30 

How should that Plant whose leaf is bath'd in tears 
Bear but a bitter fruit in elder years? 
Just such is this, and his maturer age 
Teems with event more sad then the presage. 



[116] 



AN ELEGY— OCCASIONED BY SICKNESS 

For view him higher, when his childhoods span 35 

Is raised up to Youths Meridian ; 

When he goes proudly laden with the fruit 

Which health, or strength, or beauty contribute; 

Yet as the mounted Canon batters down 

The Towres and goodly structures of a town: 40 

So one short sickness will his force defeat, 

And his frail Cittadell to rubbish beat. 

How does a dropsie melt him to a floud, 

Making each vein run water more then bloud? 

A Chollick wracks him like a Northern gust, 45 

And raging feavers crumble him to dust. 

In which unhappy state he is made worse 

By his diseases then his makers curse. 

God said in toy! and sweat he should earn bread, 

And without labour not be nourished : 50 

Here, though like ropes of falling dew, his sweat 

Hangs on his laboring brow, he cannot eat. 

Thus are his sins scourg'd in opposed themes. 
And luxuries reveng'd by their extremes. 
He who in health could never be content 55 

With Rarities fetcht from each Element, 
Is now much more afflicted to delight 
His tasteless Palate, and lost appetite. 

Besides though God ordain 'd, that with the light 
Man should begin his work, yet he made night 60 

For his repose, in which the weary sense 
Repaires it self by rests soft recompence. 

[117] 



POEMS 



But now his watchful nights, and troubled dayes 

Confused heaps of fear and fancy raise. 

His chamber seems a loose and trembling mine ; 65 

His Pillow quilted with a Porcupine: 

Pain makes his downy Couch sharp thornes appear, 

And ev'ry feather prick him like a spear. 

Thus when all forms of death about him keep. 

He copies death in any form but sleep. 70 

Poor walking clay ! hast thou a mind to know 
To what unblest beginnings thou dost ow 
Thy wretched self ? fall sick a while, and than 
Thou wilt conceive the pedigree of Man. 
Learn shalt thou from thine own Anatomic, 75 

That earth his mother, wormes his sisters be. 
That he's a short-liv'd vapour upward wrought, 
And by corruption unto nothing brought. 
A stagg'ring Meteor by cross Planets beat, 
Which often reeles and falles before his set : 80 

A tree which withers faster then it grows ; 
A torch pufE't out by ev'ry wind that blowes ; 
A web of fourty weekes spun forth in pain, 
And in a moment ravell'd out again. 

This is the Model of frail man : Then say ^S 

That his duration's onely for a day : 
And in that day more fits of changes pass, 
Then Atomes run in the turn'd Hower-glass. 

So that th'incessant cares which life invade 
Might for strong truth their heresie perswade, 90 

[118] 



THE DIRGE 



Who did maintain that humane soules are sent 
Into the body for their punishment: 
At least with that Greek sage still make us cry, 
Not to be born, or being born to dy. 

But Faith steers up to a more glorious scope, 95 

Which sweetens our sharp passage ; and firm hope 
Anchors our torne Barks on a blessed shore, 
Beyond the Dead sea we here ferry o're. 
To this, Death is our Pilot, and disease 
The Agent which solicites our release. 100 

Though crosses then poure on my restless head, 
Or lingring sickness nail me to my bed : 
Let this my Thoughts eternall comfort bee. 
That my clos'd eyes a better light shall see. 
And when by fortunes or by natures stroke 105 

My bodies earthen Pitcher must be broke, 
My Soul, like Gideons lamp, from her crackt urn 
Shall Deaths black night to endlesse lustre turn. 



The Dirge. 

What is th'Existence of Mans life? 
But open war, or slumber'd strife. 
Where sickness to his sense presents 
The combat of the Elements: 
And never feels a perfect Peace 
Till deaths cold hand signs his release. 

[119] 



POEMS 



It is a storm where the hot blood 
Out-vies in rage the boyling flood; 
And each loud Passion of the mind 
Is like a furious gust of wind, 10 

Which beats his Bark with many a Wave 
Till he casts Anchor in the Grave. 

It is a flower which buds and growes, 
And withers as the leaves disclose; 
Whose spring and fall faint seasons keep, 15 

Like fits of waking before sleep: 
Then shrinks into that fatal mold 
Where its first being was enroll'd. 

It is a dream, whose seeming truth 
Is moraliz'd in age and youth : 20 

Where all the comforts he can share 
As wandring as his fancies are ; 
Till in a mist of dark decay 
The dreamer vanish quite away. 

It is a Diall, which points out 25 

The Sun-set as it moves about: 
And shadowes out in lines of night 
The subtile stages of times flight, 
Till all obscuring earth hath laid 
The body in perpetual shade. 30 

It is a weary enterlude 
Which doth short joyes, long woes include. 
The World the Stage, the Prologue tears, 
The Acts vain hope, and vary'd fears : 

[120] 



AN ELEGY— THE LOSSE OF LADY STANHOPE 

The Scene shuts up with loss of breath, 35 

And leaves no Epilogue but Death. 



AN ELEGY 

Occasioned by the losse of the most incomparable 

Lady Stanhope, daughter to the Earl of 

N or thumb er land. 

Lightned by that dimme Torch our sorrow bears 

We sadly trace thy Coffin with our tears ; 

And though the Ceremonious Rites are past 

Since thy fair body into earth was cast ; 

Though all thy Hatchments into ragges are torne, 5 

Thy Funerall Robes and Ornaments outworn ; 

We still thy mourners without Shew or Art, 

With solemn Blacks hung round about our heart. 

Thus constantly the Obsequies renew 

Which to thy precious memory are due. 10 

Yet think not that we rudely would invade 
The dark recess of thine untroubled shade, 
Or give disturbance to that happy peace 
Which thou enjoy 'st at full since thy release; 
Much less in sullen murmurs do complain 15 

Of His decree who took thee back again. 
And did e're Fame had spread thy vertues light, 
Eclipse and fold thee up in endless night. 
This like an act of envy not of grief 
Might doubt thy bliss, and shake our own belief, 20 

[121] 



POEMS 



Whose studi'd wishes no proportion bear 

With joyes which crown thee now in glories sphere. 

Know then blest Soul ! we for our selves not thee 
Seal our woes dictate by this Elegie: 
Wherein our tears united in one streame 25 

Shall to succeeding times convey this theme, 
Worth all mens pity who discern how rare 
Such early growths of fame and goodness are. 
Of these part must thy sexes loss bewail 
Maim'd in her noblest Patterns through thy fail ; 30 

For 'twould require a double term of life 
To match thee as a daughter or a wife : 
Both which Northumberlands dear loss improve 
And make his sorrow equal to his love. 
The rest fall for our selves, who cast behind 35 

Cannot yet reach the Peace which thou dost find ; 
But slowly follow thee in that dull stage 
Which most untimely poasted hence thy age. 

Thus like religious Pilgrims who designe 
A short salute to their beloved Shrine, 40 

Most sad and humble Votaries we come 
To offer up our sighs upon thy Tc>mb, 
And wet thy Marble with our dropping eyes 
Which till the spring which feeds their currents dries 
Resolve each falling night and rising day 45 

This mournfull homage at thy Grave to pay. 

FINIS. 

[122] 



ELEGIES. 



AN ELEGY UPON MY BEST FRIEND 

AN 

ELEGY 

UPON MY BEST FRIEND 

L. K. C. 

Should we our Sorrows in this Method range, 
Oft as Misfortune doth their Subjects change, 
And to the sev'ral Losses which befall, 
Pay diff 'rent Rites at ev'ry Funeral ; 

Like narrow Springs drain'd by dispersed Streams, 5 

We must want Tears to wail such various Themes, 
And prove defective in Deaths mournfull Laws, 
Not having Words proportion'd to each Cause. 

In your Dear loss my much afflicted Sense, 
Discerns this Truth by sad experience, 10 

Who never Look'd my Verses should survive. 
As wet Records, That you are not Alive ; 
And less desir'd to make that Promise due. 
Which pass'd from Me in jest, when urg'd by You. 

How close and slily doth our Frailty work! 15 

How undiscover'd in the Body lurk! 
That Those who this Day did salute you well. 
Before the Next were frighted by your Knell. 
O wherefore since we must in Order rise. 
Should we not Fall in equal Obsequies? 20 

But bear th'Assaults of an uneven Fate, 
Like Feavers which their Hour anticipate; 
Had this Rule constant been, my long wish'd End 
Might render you a Mourner for your Friend: 

[123] 



ELEGIES 

As He for you, whose most deplor'd surprise 25 

Imprints your Death on all my Faculties ; 
That hardly my dark Phant'sle or Discourse, 
This final Duty from the Pen inforce : 

Such Influence hath your Eclipsed Light, 
It doth my Reason like my Self benight. 30 

Let me, with Luckless Gamesters, then think best 
(After I have Set up and Lost my Rest,) 
Grow'n desp'rate through mischance, to Venture last 
My whole remaining Stock upon a Cast, 
And flinging from me my now Loathed Pen, 35 

Resolve for your Sake nev'r to write agen: 
For whilst Successive days their Light renew, 
I must no Subject hope to Equal you, 
In whose Heroick Brest as in their Sphear, 
All Graces of your Sex concentred were. 40 

Thus take I my long Farewell of that Art, 
Fit only glorious Actions to impart ; 
That Art wherewith our Crosses we beguile. 
And make them In Harmonious numbers smile: 
Since you are gone, This holds no further use, 45 

Whose Virtue and Desert inspir'd my Muse. 

may She in your Ashes Burled be. 
Whilst I my Self become the Elegie. 

And as it is observ'd when Princes Dye, 

In honour of that sad Solemnity, 50 

The now unofHc'd Servants crack their Staves, 
And throw them down into their Masters Graves: 
So this last Office of my broken Verse, 

1 solemnly resign upon your Hearse; 

[124] 



ON THE EARL OF ESSEX 



And my Brains moisture, all that is unspent, 55 

Shall melt to nothing at the Monument. 

Thus in moist Weather when the Marble weeps, 

You'l think it only his Tears reck'ning keeps, 

Who doth for ever to his Thoughts bequeath 

The Legacy of your lamented Death. 60 



On the Earl of Essex. 

Essex twice made unhappy by a Wife, 

Yet Marry'd worse unto the Peoples strife: 

He who by two Divorces did untie 

His Bond of Wedlock and of Loyalty: 

Who was by Easiness of Nature bred, 5 

To lead that Tumult which first Him misled ; 

Yet had some glimm'ring Sparks of Virtue lent 

To see (though late) his Errour, and Repent: 

Essex lies here, like an inverted Flame, 

Hid in the ruins of his House and Name; 10 

And as He, frailties sad Example, lies. 

Warns the Survivours in his Exequies. 

He shews what wretched bubbles Great Men are, 
Through their Ambition grown too Popular : 

For they Built up, from weak Opinion, stand 15 

On Bases false as Water, loose as Sand ; 

Essex in differing Successes try'd 

The fury and the falshood of each Side; 

Now with applauses Deify'd, and then 

Thrown down with spightfull infamy agen : 20 

[125] 



ELEGIES 

Tells them, what Arts soever them support, 
Their Life is meerly Time and Fortunes sport, 
And that no Bladders blown by Common breath, 
Shall bear them up amidst the Waves of Death: 

Tells them no Monstrous Birth, with Pow'r endu'd 25 
By that more Monstrous Beast the Multitude; 
No State-Co/ow (though Tall as that bestrid 
The Rhodian Harbour where their Navy rid) 
Can hold that ill-proportion'd Greatness still. 
Beyond his Greater, most Resistless will, 30 

Whose dreadfull Sentence written on the Wall 
Did sign the Temple Robbing Tyrants fall ; 
But Spight of their vast Priviledge, which strives 
T'exceed the Size of ten Prerogatives; 
Spight of their Endless Parliament, or Grants, 35 

( In Order to those Votes and Covenants, 
When, without Sense of their black Perjury 
They Swear with Essex they would Live and Dye) 
With their Dead General ere long they must 
Contracted be into a Span of Dust. 40 

An Elegy on Sir Charls Lucas, and 
Sir George Lisle. 

In measures solemn as the groans that fall 

From the hoarse Trumpet at some Funerall ; 

With trayling Elegy and mournfull Verse 

I wait upon two Pearless Souldiers Hearse: 

Though, I acknowledge must, my sorrowes dress . 5 

111 matched to the cause it should Express ; 

[126] 



SIR CHARLS LUCAS, AND SIR GEORGE LISLE 

Nor can I, at my best Inventions cost, 
Sum up the Treasure which In them we lost : 

Had they with other Worthies of the Age, 
Who late upon the KIngdomes bloody Stage, 10 

For God, the King, and Laws, their Valour try'd. 
Through Warrs stern chance In heat of Battel Dy'd, 
We then might save much of our griefs expence 
Reputing It not duty, but offence. 

They need no tears nor howling Exequy, 15 

Who In a glorious undertaking Dye; 
Since all that In the bed of honour fell 
Live their own Monument and Chronicle. 

But these, whom horrid danger did not reach. 
The wide-mouth'd Cannon, nor the wider Breach, 20 
These, v/hom till cruel want and coward fate 
Penn'd up like famlsh'd Lions In a Grate, 
Were for their daring Sallies so much fear'd 
Th 'Assailants fled them like a frighted Heard ; 
Resolving now no more to fight, but lurk 25 

Trench'd In their Line or earth'd within a Work. 
Where not like Souldlers they, but Watchmen, creep, 
Arm'd for no other office but to sleep: 
They, whose bold charge whole Armies did amaze, 
Rendring them faint and heartless at the Gaze, 30 

To see Resolve and Naked Valour charmes 
Of higher Proof than all their massy Armes: 
They whose bright swords rufl^ed the proudest Troop 
(As fowl unto the towring Falcon stoop) 
Yet no advantage made of their Success 35 

Which to the conquer'd spake them merciless; 

[127] 



ELEGIES 



( For they, when e'r 'twas begg'd did safety give, 

And oft unasked bid the vanquish'd live;) 

Ev'n these, not more undaunted in the Field 

Than mild and Gentle unto such as yield, 40 

Were, after all the shocks of battails stood, 

(Let me not name it) murther'd in cold blood. 

Such poor revenge did the enraged Greek 
Against (till then) victorious Hector seek. 
Triumphing o'r that Body bownd and dead 45 

From whom in Life the Pow'rs of Argos fled. 
Yet might A chillis borrow some excuse 
To colour, though not warrant the abuse: 
His dearest Friend in the fierce combate foyl'd 
Was by the Trojans hand of Life despoyl'd: 50 

From whence unruly grief grown wild with rage 
Beyond the bownds of Honour did engage. 
But these, confirm'd in their unmanly hate, 
By Counsels cruel yet deliberate. 

Did from the Stock of bleeding honour hew 55 

Two of the noblest Branches ever grew; 
And (which our grief and Pitty must improve) 
When brought within their reach with shews of Love : 
For by a Treaty they entangled are, 

And Rendring up to Mercy is the Snare ; 60 

Whence we have learn'd when e'r their Saint-Ships 
The ends are mortall, and the means a Cheat ; (Treat, 
In which the World may read their black intent, 
Drawn out at large in this sad President. 
Who ( though fair promis'd ) might no Mercy have, 65 
But such as once the faithless Bashaw gave, 



[128] 



SIR CHARLS LUCAS, AND SIR GEORGE LISLE 

When to his trust deluded Bragadine 

Himsef and Famogasta did resign. 

Whose envy'd Valour thus to bonds betray'd 

Was soon the mark of barb'rous slaughter made : 70 

So gallant Shipps which rocks and storms had past, 

Though with torn Sails and spending of their Mast, 

When newly brought within the sight of Land, 

Have been suckt up by some devouring Sand 

You wretched Agents for a Kingdoms fall, 75 

Who yet your selves the Modell'd Army call ; 
Who carry on and fashion your Design 
By SyllaeSj Syllaes red proscriptions Line, 
(Romes Comet once, as You are Ours) for shame 
Henceforth no more usurp the Souldiers Name : 80 

Let not that Title in fair Battails gain'd 
Be by such abject things as You profan'd; 
For what have you atchiev'd, the world may guess 
You are those Men of Might which you profess. 
Where ever durst You strike, if you met foes 85 

Whose Valour did your odds in men oppose? 
Turn o're the Annalls of your vaunted Fights 
Which made you late the Peoples Favourites; 
Begin your course at Naseby, and from thence 
Draw out Your Marches full circumference, 90 

Bridgwater, Bristol, Dartmouth, with the rest 
Of Your well-plotted renders in the West ; 
Then to the angry North Your compass bend 
Untill Your spent careere in Scotland end, 
(This is the perfect Scale of our mishap 95 

Which measures out your conquest by the Mapp) 

[129] 



ELEGIES 

And tell me he that can, What have you won, 

Which long before Your progress was not done? 

What Castle was besieg'd, what Port, what Town, 

You were not sure to carry 'ere sat down? 100 

There needed no Granadoes, no Petard, 

To force the passage, or disperse the Guard. 

No, Your good Masters sent a Golden Ramm 

To batter down the gates against You came. 

Those blest Reformers who procur'd the Swead 105 

His armed Forces into Denmark lead, 

'Mongst them to kindle a sharp warr for hire. 

Who in mear pitty meant to quench our fire. 

Could where they pleased with the King's own coyn, 

Divert His Aids and Strengths at home purloyn. 110 

Upon Sea Voyages I sometimes find 
Men trade with Lapland Witches for a Wind, 
And by those purchas'd Gales, quick as their thought, 
To the desired Port are safely brought. 
We need not here on skillfull Hopkins call 115 

The States allow'd Witch-finder General. 
For (though Rebellion wants no Cad nor Elfe, 
But is a perfect Witchcraft of it self) 
We could with little help of art reveal 
Those learn'd Magitians with whom You deal: 120 

We all Your Juggles both for Time and Place 
From Darby-\\OMSt to Westminster can Trace, 
The Circle where the factious Jangle meet 
To Trample Law and Gospel under feet ; 
In which, like Bells Rung backward, they proclaim 125 
The Kingdom by their Wild-fire set on flame, 

[130] 



SIR CHARLS LUCAS, AND SIR GEORGE LISLE 

And, quite Perverting their First Rules, invent 

What mischief may be done by Parliament: 

We know Your holy Flamens, and can tell 

What Spirits Vote within the Oracle: 130 

Have found the spells and Incantations too, 

By whose assistance You such Wonders do. 

For divers Years the credit of Your warrs 

Hath been kept up by these Familiars, 

Who that they may their providence express 135 

Both find j^ou Pay and purchase Your Success: 

No wonder then You must the Garland wear, 

Who never fought but with a Silver Spear. 

We grant the Warrs unhappy consequence (thence, 
With all the num'rous Plagues which grow from 140 
Murthers and Rapes, threats of Disease and Dearth, 
From You as for the proper Spring take birth : 
You may for Laws enact the Publick Wrongs, 
With all fowl Violence to them belongs; 
May bawl aloud the Peoples Right and Pow'r 145 

Till by Your Sword You both of them Devour, 
( For this brave Liberty by You up-cry'd 
Is to all others but Your-selves deny'd,) 
May with seditious fires the Land embroyl. 
And in pretence to quench them take the Spoyl: 150 

You may Religion to Your lust subdue. 
For these are actions only Worthy You: 
Yet when your Projects, crownd with wish'd event. 
Have made You Masters of the ill You meant, 
You never must the Souldiers glory share, 155 

Since all your Trophies Executions are: 

[131] 



ELEGIES 

Not thinking your Successes understood, 
Unless Recorded and Scor'd up in Blood. 

In which, to Gull the People, you pretend 
That Military Justice was Your end; 160 

As if we still were Blind, not knowing this 
To all your other Virtues suited is; 
Who only Act by your great Grandsires Law, 
The Butcher CadCj Wat Tyler ^ and Jack Straw, 
Whose Principle was Murther, and their Sport 165 

To cut off those they fear'd might do them hurt: 
Nay, in your Actions we compleated find, 
What by those Levellers was but design'd. 
For now Committees, and your Arm'd supplies, 
Canton the Land in petty Tyrannies, 170 

And for one King of Commons in each Shire, 
Four hundred Commons rule as Tyrants here. 
Had you not meant the Copies of each Deed, 
Should their Originals in ill exceed, 
You would not practice sure the Turkish Art, 175 

To Ship your taken Pris'ners for a Mart, 
Least if with Freedome they at Home remain. 
They should (which is your Terrour) Fight again. 
A thing long since by Zealous Rtgby mov'd, 
And by the Faction like himself approv'd; 180 

Though you uncounsell'd can such Outrage try, 
Scarce sampled from the basest Enemy. 
Naseby of Old, and late St. Pagans Fare, 
Of these inhumane Truckings witness are ; 
At which the Captiv'd Welch in Couples led, 185 

Were Marketted, like Cattel, by the Head. 

[132] 



SIR CHARLS LUCAS, AND SIR GEORGE LISLE 

Let it no more In History be told, 

That Turks their Christian Slaves for Aspers sold ; 

When we the Saints selling their Brethren see, 

Who had a Call (they say) to set them free ; 190 

And are at last by Right of Conquest grown, 

To claim our Land of Canaan for their own. 

Though luckless Colchester in this out-vies, 

Argiers or Tunis shamefull Merchandise; 

Where the Starv'd Souldier (as th'agreement was) 195 

Might not be suffer'd to their Dwelling pass, 

Till, led about by some insulting Band, 

They first were shew'd in Triumph through the Land : 

In which for lack of Dyet, or of Strength 

If any Fainted through the Marches length, 200 

Void of the Breasts of Men, this Murth'rous Crew 

All those they could drive on no further. Slew; 

What Bloody Riddle's this? They mercy give. 

Yet those who should enjoy it, must not Live. 

Indeed we cannot less from such expect, 205 

Who for this Work of Ruine are Elect : 
This Scum drawn from the worst, who never knew 
The Fruits which from Ingenuous Breeding grew; 
But take such low Commanders on their Lists, 
As did revolted Jeroboam Priests: 210 

That 'tis our Fate, I fear, to be undone 
Like Aegypt once with Vermin over-run. 
If in the Rabble some be more refin'd 
By fair Extractions of their birth or mind, 
Ev'n these corrupted are by such allays, 215 

That no Impression of their Vertue stays. 

[133] 



ELEGIES 

As Gold embased by some mingled Dross 
Both in it's Worth and Nature suffers Loss. 

Else had that Sense of Honour still Surviv'd 
Which Fairfax from his Ancestors deriv'd, 220 

He ne'r had shew'd Himself, for hate or fear, 
So much degen'rous from renowned Vere 
(The Title and Alliance of whose Son 
His Acts of Valour had in Holland won), 
As to give up by his rash dooming Breath 225 

This precious Pair of Lives to timeless death ; 
Whom no brave Enemy but would esteem, 
And, though with hazard of his owm, redeem. 
For 'tis not vainly by the world surmis'd 
This Blood to private Spleens was sacrifis'd. 230 

Half of the guilt stands chardgd on Whaleys score, 
By Lisle affronted on his guards before ; 
For which his spight by other hands was shew'n, 
Who never durst dispute it with his own. 
Twice guilty coward ! first by Vote, then Eye, 235 

Spectator of the shamefull Tragedy. 
But Lucas elder cause of quarrell Knew, 
From whence his Critical Misfortune grew ; 
Since he from Berkley Castle with such scorn 
Bold Ranshorough' s first Summons did return, 240 

Telling him Loudly at the Parley's Beat, 
With Rogues and Rebells He disdain'd to Treat; 

Some from this hot contest the world perswade 
His sleeping vengeance on that ground was laid: 
If so, for ever blurr'd with Envies brand, 245 

His Honour gain'd by Sea, was lost at Land : 

[134] 



SIR CHARLS LUCAS, AND SIR GEORGE LISLE 

Nor could he an impending Judgment shun 

Who did to this with so much fervour run, 

When late himself, to quit that Bloody stain. 

Was, midst his Armed Guards, from Pomfret slain. 250 

But all in vain we here expostulate 

What took them hence, private or publick hate : 

Knowledge of acted Woes small comforts add, 

When no repair proportion'd can be had: 

And such are ours, which to the Kingdomes eyes 255 

Sadly present ensuing miseries, 

Fore-telling in These Two some greater ill 

From Those who now a Pattent have to Kill. 

TwOj whose dear loss leaves us no recompence, 

Nor them attonement, which in weight or Sense 260 

With These shall never into Ballance come 

Though all the Army fell their Hecatomb. 

Here leave them then ; and be't our last relief 

To give their merit Value in our grief. 

Whose blood however yet neglected must 265 

Without revenge or Rites mingle with Dust; 

Not any falling drop shall ever dry 

Till to a Weeping Spring it multiply, 

Bath'd in whose tears their blasted Laurell shall ( fall. 

Grow green, and with fresh Garlands Crown their 270 

From this black region then of Death and Night 
Great Spirits take your everlasting flight: 
And as your Valours mounting fires combine. 
May they a brighter Constellation shine 
Than Gemini, or than the Brother-Starrs 275 

Castor and Pollux fortunate to warrs. 

[135] 



ELEGIES 

That all fair Souldiers by Your sparkling light 
May find the way to Conquer when they Fight, 
And by those Paterns which from you they take 
Direct their course though Honours Zodiak: 280 

But upon Traitors frown with dire Aspect, 
Which may their perjuries and guilt reflect; 
Unto the Curse of whose Nativity, 
Prodigious as the Caput Algol be, 

Whose pale and ghastly Tresses still portend 285 

Their own despair or Hangman for their end. 
And that succeeding ages may keep safe 
Your Lov'd remembrance in some Epitaph, 
Upon the ruins of your glorious Youth 
Inscribed be this Monumentall Truth: 290 

Here ly the Valiant Lucas and brave Lysle, 
With Amasa betray'd in Joabs smile: 
In whom revenge of Honour taking place 
His great Corrivall's stabb'd in the Embrace. 
And as it was the Hebrew Captains stain 295 

That he two Greater than himself had Slain, 
Shedding the Blood of Warr in time of Peace, 
When Love pretended was, and Arms did cease. 
May the fowl Murtherers expect a fate 
Like Joabs, Blood with Blood to expiate: 300 

Which quick as Lightning, and as Thunder sure, 
Preventions wisest arts nor shun, nor cure. 
O may it fall on their perfidious head ! 
That when, with Joab to the Altar fled, 
Themselves the Sword and reach of vengence flee 305 
No Temple may their Sanctuary be. 

[136] 



AN ELEGY UPON KING CHARLS THE FIRST 



Last, that nor frailty nor devouring time 
May ever lose impressions of the Crime, 
Let loyal Colchester (v^ho too late try'd 
To Check, when highest wrought, the Rebels Pride, 310 
Holding them long, and doubtfuU at the bay, 
Whilest we by looking on gave all av/ay) 
Be only Nam'd : which like a Columne built 
Shall both enhearse this blood un-nobly spilt, 
And live, till all her Towres in rubbish lye 315 

The Monuments of their base Cruelty. 



An Elegy upon the most Incomparable 
King Charls the First. 

Call for amazed thoughts, a wounded sense 

And bleeding Hearts at our Intelligence. 

Call for that Trump of Death the Mandrakes Groan 

Which kills the Hearers : This befits alone 

Our Story which through times vast Calendar, 5 

Must stand without Example or Repair. 

What spouts of melting Clouds, what endless Springs, 

Powr'd in the Oceans lap for Offerings, 

Shall feed the hungry Torrent of our grief 

Too mighty for expression or belief? 10 

Though all those moistures which the brain attracts 

Ran from eyes like gushing Cataracts, 

Or our sad accents could out-tongue the Cryes 

Which did from mournful Hadadrimmon rise, 

[137] 



ELEGIES 



Since that remembrance of Josiah slain 15 

In our King's murther is reviv'd again. 

O pardon me that but from Holy Writ 
Our loss allowes no Parallel to it: 
Nor call it bold presumption that I dare 
Charls with the best of Judah's Kings compare : 20 

The vertues of whose life did I prefer 
The Text acquits me for no Flatterer. 
For he like David perfect in his Trust, 
Was never stayn'd like Him, with Blood or Lust. 

One who with Solomon in Judgment try'd, 25 

Was quick to comprehend, Wise to decide, 
(That even his Judges stood amaz'd to hear 
A more transcendent Mover in their Sphear) 
Though more Religious: for when doting Love 
A while made Solomon Apostate prove, 30 

Charls nev'r endur'd the Truth which he profest, 
To be unfixt by bosome interest. 
Bold as Jehosaphat, yet forc'd to Fight, 
And for his own, no unconcerned Right. 
Should I recount His constant time of Pray'r, 35 

Each rising Morn and Ev'ning Regular, 
You'ld say his practice preach'd, They ought not Eat 
Who by devotion first not earn'd their Meat: 
Thus Hezekiah He exceeds in Zeal, 

Though not (like him) So facile to reveal 40 

The Treasures of Gods House, or His own Heart, 
To be supplanted by some forein art. 
And that he might in fame with Joash share 
When he the ruin'd Temple did repair, 



[138] 



AN ELEGY UPON KING CHARLS THE FIRST 

His cost on Pauls late ragged Fabrick spent 45 

Must (if no other) be His Monument. 

From this Survey the Kingdom may conclude 
His Merits, and her Losses Magnitude: 
Nor think he flatters or blasphemes, who tells 
That Charls exceeds Judeas Parallels, 50 

In whom all Vertues we concentred see 
Which 'mongst the best of them divided be. 

O weak built Glories ! which those Tempests feel 
To force you from your firmest bases reel. 
What from the stroaks of Chance shall you secure, 55 
When Rocks of Innocence are so unsure ? 
When the World's only mirrour slaughter'd lies, 
Envies and Treasons bleeding sacrifize ; 
As if His stock of Goodness could become 
No Kalendar, but that of Martyrdom. 60 

See now ye cursed Mountebanks of State, 
Who have Eight years for Reformations sate; 
You who dire Alva's Counsels did transfer, 
To Act his Scenes on England's Theater ; 
You who did pawn your Selves in Publick Faith 65 

To slave the Kingdom by your Pride and Wrath ; 
Call the whole World to witness now, how just, 
How well you are responsive to your trust. 
How to your King the promise you perform. 
With Fasts, and Sermons, and long Prayers sworn, 70 
That you intended Peace and Truth to bring 
To make your Charls Europes most Glorious King. 
Did you for this Lift up your Hands on high. 
To Kill the King, and pluck down Monarchy? 

[139] 



ELEGIES 



These are the Fruits by your wild Faction sown, 75 

Which not Imputed are, but Born your own : 

For though you wisely seem to wash your Hands, 

The Guilt on every Vote and Order stands ; 

So that convinc'd, from all you did before, 

Justice must lay the Murther at your Door. 80 

Mark if the Body does not Bleed anew, 

In any Circumstance approach'd by You, 

From whose each motion we might plain descry 

The black Ostents of this late Tragedy. 

For when the King through Storms in Scotland bred, 85 
To his Great Councel for his shelter fled. 
When in that meeting every Error gain'd 
Redresses sooner granted, than Complain'd: 
Not all those frank Concessions or Amends 
Did suit the then too Powerfull Faction s ends: 90 

No Acts of Grace at present would Content, 
Nor Promise of Triennial Parliament, 
Till by a formal Law the King had past 
This Session should at Your pleasure last. 

So having got the Bitt, and that 'twas known 95 

No power could dissolve You but Your own. 
Your graceless Junto make such use of this. 
As once was practis'd by Semiramis; 
Who striving by a subtile Sute to prove 
The largeness of her Husband Trust and Love, 100 

Did from the much abused King obtain 
That for Three dayes She might sole Empress reign; 
Before which time expir'd, the bloody Wife 
Depriv'd her Lord both of his Crown and Life, 



[140] 



AN ELEGY UPON KING CHARLS THE FIRST 



There needs no Comment when your deeds apply 105 
The Demonstration of her Treachery. 

Which to effect, by Absolons foul wile 
You of the Peoples Heart your Prince beguile ; 
Urging what Eases they might reap by it 
Did you their Legislative Judges sit. 110 

How did you fawn upon, and Court the Rout, 
Whose Clamour carry'd your whole Plot about? 
How did you thank Seditious men that came 
To bring Petitions which your selves did frame ? 
And lest they wanted Hands to set them on, 115 

You lead the way by throwing the first stone. 
For in that Libel after Midnight born. 
Wherewith your Faction laboured till the Morn, 
That Famous Lye, you a Remonstrance name; 
Were not Reproaches your malicious aim? 120 

Was not the King's dishonour your intent, 
By Slanders to traduce his Government? 
All which your spightf ull Cunning did contrive ; 
Men must receive through your false Perspective, 
In which the smallest Spots improved were, 125 

And every Mote a Mountain did appear. 
Thus Caesar by th' ungratefull Senate found 
His Life assaulted through his Honour s Wound. 

And now to make Him hopeless to resist. 
You guide His Sword by Vote, which as you list 130 

Must, Strike or Spare (for so you did enforce 
His Hand against His Reason to divorce 



[141] 



ELEGIES 



Brave Strafford's Life,) then wring it quite away 

By your usurping each Militia: 

Then seize His Magazines, of which possest 135 

You turn the Weapons 'gainst their Master's Breast. 

This done, th' unkennell'd crew of Lawless men 
Led down by Watkins, Pennington, and Ven, 
Did with confused noise the Court invade ; 
Then all Dissenters in Both Houses Bay'd. 140 

At which the King amaz'd is forc'd to flye, 
The whilst your Mouth's laid on mantain the Cry. 

The Royal Game dislodg'd and under Chase, 
Your hot Pursute dogs Him from place to place: 
Not Saul with greater fury or disdain 145 

Did flying David from Jeshimons plain 
Unto the barren Wilderness pursue, 
Than Cours'd and Hunted is the King by you. 
The Mountain Partridge or the Chased Roe 
Might now for Emblemes of His Fortune go, 150 

And since all other May-games of the Town 
(Save those your selves should make) were Voted down, 
The Clam'rous Pulpit HoUaes in resort. 
Inviting men to your King-catching Sport. 
Where as the Foyl grows cold you mend the Scent 155 

By crying Privilege of Parliament, 
Whose fair Pretensions the first sparkles are. 
Which by your breath blown up enflame the War, 
And Ireland (bleeding by design) the Stale 
Wherewith for Men and Money you prevail. 160 

Yet doubting that Imposture could not last. 
When all the Kingdoms Mines of Treasure waste. 



[142] 



AN ELEGY UPON KING CHARLS THE FIRST 

You now tear down Religions sacred Hedge 

To carry on the Work by Sacriledge; 

Reputing It Rebellions fittest Pay 165 

To take both God^s and Caesar s dues away. 

The tenor of which execrable Vote 
Your over-active Zelots so promote, 
That neither Tomb nor Temple could escape, 
Nor Dead nor Living, j^our Licentious Rape. 170 

Statues and Grave-stones o'r men buried 
Rob'd of their Brass, the Coffins of their Led ; 
Not the Seventh Henry's gilt and curious Skreen, 
Nor those which 'mongst our Rarities were seen, 
The Chests wherein the Saxon Monarchs lay, 175 

But must be basely sould or thrown away. 
May in succeeding times forgotten be 
Those bold Examples of Impiety, 
Which were the Ages wonder and discourse, 
You have Their greatest ills.improv'd by worse. 180 

No more be mention'd Dionysius Theft, 
Who of their Gold the Heathen Shrines bereft; 
For who with Yours His Robberies confer. 
Must him repute a petty Pilferer. 

Nor Julians Scoff, who when he view'd the State 185 
Of Antioch's Church, the Ornaments and Plate, 
Cry'd, Meaner Vessels would serve turn, or None 
Might well become the birth of Mary's Son: 

Nor how that spightfuil Atheist did in scorn 
PIsse on God's Table, which so oft had born 190 

The Hallow'd Elements, his death present: 

Nor he that fould It with his Excrement, 

[143] 



ELEGIES 



Then turn'd the Cloth unto that act of shame, 
Which without trembling Christians should not name. 

Nor John of Leyden, who the pillag'd Quires 195 

Employ'd in Munster for his own attires ; 
His pranks by Hazlerig exceeded be, 
A wretch more wicked and as mad as he, 
Who once in triumph led his Sumpter Moil 
Proudly bedecked with the Altar's spoyl. 200 

Nor at BizantiuTns sack how Mahomet 
In St. Sophia's Church his Horses set. 

Nor how Belshazzar at his drunken Feasts 
Carows'd in holy Vessels to his Guests: 

Nor he that did the Books and Anthen-.s tear, 205 

Which in the daily Stations used were. 

These were poor Essayes of imperfect Crimes, 
Fit for beginners in unlearned times, 
Siz'd onely for that dull Meridian 

Which knew no Jesuit nor Puritan, 210 

( Before whose fatal Birth were no such things 
As Doctrines to Depose and Murther Kings.) 
But since Your prudent care Enacted well, 
That there should be no King in Israel, 
England must write such Annals of Your reign 215 

Which all Records of elder mischiefs stain. 
Churches unbuilt by order, others burn'd ; 
Whilst Pauls and Lincoln are to Stables turn'd ; 
And at God's Table you might Horses see 
By (those more Beasts) their Riders manger'd be, 220 
Some Kitchins and some Slaughter-houses made. 
Communion-boards and Cloths for Dressers laid : 



[144] 



AN ELEGY UPON KING CHARLS THE FIRST 

Some turn'd to loathsome Goals, so by you brought 

Unto the Curse of Baal's House:, a Draught. 

The Common Prayers with the Bibles torn, 225 

The Coaps In Antick Moorish Dances worn. 

And sometimes, for the wearers greater mock, 

The Surplice Is converted to a Frock. 

Some bringing Dogs the Sacrament revile, 

Some with Copronimus the Font defile. 230 

O God! canst Thou these prophanatlons like? 

If not, why Is thy Thunder slow to strike 

The cursed Authors? who dare think that Thou 

Dost, when not punish them, their acts allow. 

All which outraglous Crimes, though your pretence 235 

Would fasten on the Souldlers Insolence, 

We must believe, that what by them was done 

Came llcens'd forth by your probation. 

For, as your selves with Athaliah's Brood 

In strong contention for precedence stood, 240 

You robb'd Two Royal Chapels of their Plate, 

Which Kings and Queens to God did dedicate; 

Then by a Vote more sordid than the Stealth, 

Melt down and Coyn It for the Common-wealth ; 

That Is, give't up to the devouring jaws 245 

Of your great Idol Bell, new styl'd The Cause, 

And though this Monster you did well devise 

To feed by Plunder, Taxes, Loans, Excise; 

(All which Provisions You the People tell 

Scarce serve to diet Your Pantagruel.) 250 

We no Strew' d Ashes need to trace the Cheat, 

Who plainly see what Mouthes the Messes eat. 

[145] 



ELEGIES 

Brave Reformation! and a through one too, 
Which to enrich Your selves must All undo. 
Pray tell us (those that can) What fruits have grown 255 
From all Your Seeds in Blood and Treasure sown ? 
What would you mend ? when Your Projected State 
Doth from the Best in Form degenerate ? 
Or why should You (of All) attempt the Cure, 
Whose Facts nor GospeVs Test nor Laws endure ? 260 
But like unwholsome Exhalations met 
From Your Conjunction onely Plagues beget, 
And in Your Circle, as Imposthumes fill 
Which by their venome the whole Body kill; 
For never had You Pow'r but to Destroy, 265 

Nor Will, but where You Conquer'd to Enjoy. 

This was your Master-prize, who did intend 
To make both Church and Kingdom's prey Your End. 
'Gainst which the King (plac'd in the Gap) did strive 
By His (till then unquestion'd) Negative, 270 

Which finding You lack'd Reason to perswade. 
Your Arguments are into Weapons made ; 
So to compell him by main force to yield. 
You had a Formed Army in the Field 
Before his Reared Standard could invite 275 

Ten men upon his Righteous Cause to fight : 
Yet ere those raised Forces did advance, 
Your malice struck him dead by Ordinance, 
When your Commissions the whole Kingdom swept 
With Blood and Slaughter, Not the King Except. 280 

Now hardned in Revolt, You next proceed 
By Pacts to strengthen each Rebellious Deed, 

[146] 



AN ELEGY UPON KING CHARLS THE FIRST 



New Oaths, and Vozus, and Covetiants advance, 

All contradicting your Allegiance, 

Whose Sacred knot you plainly did unty, 285 

When you with Essex swore to Live and Dye. 

These were your Calves in Bethel and in Dan, 

Which Jeroboam's Treason stablish can, 

Who by strange Pacts and Altars did seduce 

The People to their Laws and King's abuse ; 290 

All which but serve like Shibboleth to try 

Those who pronounc'd not your conspiracy ; 

That when your other Trains defective are, 

Forced Oaths might bring Refusers to the Snare. 

And lest those men your Counsels did pervert, 295 

Might when your Fraud was seen the Cause desert, 

A fierce Decree is through the Kingdom sent, 

Which made it Death for any to Repent. 

What strange Dilemmaes doth Rebellion make? 

'Tis mortal to Deny, or to Partake: 300 

Some Hang who would not aid your Traiterous Act, 

Others engag'd are Hang'd if they Retract. 

So Witches who their Contracts have unsworn. 

By their own Devils are in pieces torn. 

Thus still the rageing Tempest higher grows, 305 

Which in Extreams the Kings Resolvings throws. 
The face of Ruin every where appears, 
And Acts of Outrage multiply our fears ; 
Whilst blind Ambition by successes fed 
Hath You beyond the bound of Subjects led, 310 

Who tasting once the sweet of Regal Sway, 
Resolving now no longer to obey. 

[147] 



ELEGIES 



For Presbiterian pride contests as high 

As doth the Popedom for Supremacy. 

Needs must you with unskilfull Phaeton 315 

Aspire to guld the Chariot of the Sun, 

Though your Ill-govern'd height with lightning be 

Thrown headlong from his burning Axle-tree. 

You will no more Petition or Debate, 

But your desire in Propositions state, 320 

Which by such Rules and Ties the King confine, 

They In effect are Summons to Resign. 

Therefore your War Is manag'd with such sleight, 

'Twas seen you more prevall'd by Purse than Might; 

And those j^ou could not purchase to your will, 325 

You Brib'd with Sums of Money to sit still. 

The King by this time hopeless here of Peace, 
Or to procure His wasted Peoples ease. 
Which He in frequent Messages had try'd, 
By you as oft as Shamelesly deny'd ; 330 

Wearied by faithless Friends and restless Foes, 
To certain hazard doth His Life Expose : 
When through your Quarters in a mean disguise 
He to His Country-men for succour flies, 
Who met a brave occasion then to save 335 

Their Native King from His untimely Grave: 
Had he from them such fair Reception galn'd, 
Wherewith ev'n Achish David entertain'd. 
But Faith to Him or Hospitable Laws 
In your Confederate Union were no Clause, 340 

Which back to you their Rendred Master sends 
To tell how He was us'd among his Friends. 



[148] 



AN ELEGY UPON KING CHARLS THE FIRST 

Far be it from my thoughts by this black Line 

To measure all within that Warlike Clime ; 

The still admir'd Montross some Numbers lead 345 

In his brave steps of Loyalty to tread. 

I only Tax a furious Party there, 

Who with our Native Pests Enleagued were. 

Then 'twas you follow'd Him with Hue and Cry, 

Made Midnight Searches in Each Liberty, 350 

Voting it Death to all without Reprieve, 

Who should their Master Harbour or Relieve. 

Ev'n in pure pity of both Nations Fame, 

I wish that Act in Story had no Name. 

When all your mutual Stipulations are 355 

Converted at Newcastle to a Fair, 

Where (like His Lord) the King the Mart is made. 

Bought with Your Money, and by Them Betraid; 

For both are Guilty, They that did Contract, 

And You that did the fatal Bargain Act. 360 

Which who by equal Reason shall peruse. 

Must yet conclude, They had the best Excuse : 

For doubtless They (Good men) had never Sold, 

But that you tempted Them with English Gold ; 

And 'tis no wonder if with such a Sum 365 

Our Brethrens frailty might be overcome. 

What though hereafter it may prove their Lot 

To be compared with Iscariot? 

Yet will the World perceive which was most wise, 

And who the Nobler Traitor by the Price; 370 

For though 'tis true Both did Themselves undo, 

They made the better Bargain of the Two, 

[149] 



ELEGIES 

Which all may reckon who can difference 

Two hundred thousand Pounds from Thirty Pence. 

However something is in Justice due, 375 

Which may be spoken in defence of You; 
For in your Masters Purchase you gave more, 
Than all your Jewish Kindred paid before. 
And had you wisely us'd what then you bought, 
Your Act might be a Loyal Ransome thought, 380 

To free from Bonds your Captive Soveraign, 
Restoring Him to his lost Crown again. 

But You had other Plots, your busie hate 
Ply'd all advantage on His fallen State, 
And shew'd You did not come to bring Him Bayl, 385 
But to remove Him to a stricter Gaol, 
To Holmby first, whence taken from His Bed, 
He by an Army was in Triumph led ; 
Till on pretence of safety CromweVs wile 
Had juggl'd Him into the Fatal Isle, 390 

Where Hammond for his Jaylor is decreed, 
And Murderous Rolf as Lieger-Hangman fee'd. 
Who in one fatal Knot Two Counsels tye, 
He must by Poison or by Pistol Dye. 
Here now deny'd all Comforts due to Life, 395 

His Friends, His Children, and His Peerless Wife; 
From Carisbrook He oft but vainly sends. 
And though first Wrong'd, seeks to make you Amends ; 
For this He sues, and by his restless Pen 
Importunes Your deaf Ears to Treat agen. 400 

Whilst the proud Faction scorning to go less. 
Return those Trait'rous Votes of Non Address, 

[150] 



AN ELEGY UPON KING CHARLS THE FIRST 



Which follow'd were by th' Armies thundring 

To Act without and quite against the King. 

Yet when that Cloud remov'd, and the clear Light 405 

Drawn from His weighty Reasons, gave You sight 

Of Your own Dangers, had not Their Intents 

Retarded been by some cross Accidents; 

Which for a while with fortunate Suspence 

Check'd or diverted Their swoln Insolence: 410 

When the whole Kingdom for a Treaty cry'd, 

Which gave such credit to Your falling side, 

That you Recalled those Votes, and God once more 

Your Power to save the Kingdome did restore ? 

Remember how Your peevish Treators sate, 415 

Not to make Peace, but to prolong Debate ; 

How You that precious time at first delay'd, 

And what ill use of Your advantage made. 

As if from Your foul Hands God had decreed 

Nothing but War and Mischief should succeed. 420 

For when by easy Grants the Kings Assent 

Did your Desires in greater things prevent, 

When He did yield faster than You intreat, 

And more than Modesty dares well repeat ; 

Yet not content with this, without all sense 425 

Or of His Honour or His Conscience, 

Still you prest on, till j^ou too late descry'd, 

'Twas now less safe to stay than be deny'd. 

For like a Flood broke loose the Armed Rout, 

Then Shut Him closer up. And Shut You out, 430 

Who by just Vengeance are since Worried 

By those Hand-wolves You for His Ruine bred. 

[151] 



ELEGIES 



Thus like Two smoaking Firebrands, You and They 
Have in this Smother choak'd the Kingdom's Day: 
And as you rais'd Them first, must share the Guilt, 435 
With all the Blood in those Distractions spilt. 
For though with Sampson s Foxes backward turn'd, 
(When he Philistias fruitfull Harvest burn'd) 
The face of your Opinions stands averse, 
All your Conclusions but one Fire disperse; 440 

And every Line which carries your Designs, 
In the same Centre of Confusion joyns. 
Though then the Independants end the Work, 
'Tis known they took their Platform from the Kirk; 
Though Pilate Bradshaw with his pack of Jews, 445 

God's High Vice-gerent at the Bar accuse; 
They but reviv'd the Evidence and Charge, 
Your poys'nous Declarations laid at large; 
Though they Condemn'd or made his Life their Spoil, 
You were the Setters forc'd him to the Toil : 450 

For you whose fatal hand the Warrant writ, 
The Prisoner did for Execution fit; 
And if their Ax invade the Regal Throat, 
Remember you first Murther'd Him by Vote. 
Thus they receive your Tennis at the bound, 455 

Take off that Head which you had first Un-crown'd ; 
Which shews the Texture of our Mischiefs Clew, 
If Ravell'd to the Top, begins in You, 
Who have for ever stain'd the brave Intents 
And Credit of our English Parliaments: 460 

And in this One caus'd greater Ills, and more. 
Than all of theirs did Good that went before. 



[152] 




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AN ELEGY UPON KING CHARLS THE FIRST 



Yet have You kept your word against Your will, 
Your King is Great indeed and Glorious still, 
And You have made Him so. We must impute 465 

That Lustre which His Sufferings contribute 
To your preposterous Wisdoms, who have done 
All your good Deeds by Contradiction : 
For as to work His Peace you rais'd this Strife, 
And often Shot at Him to Save His Life; 470 

As you took from Him to Encrease His w^ealth. 
And kept Him Pris'ner to secure His Health; 
So in revenge of your dissembled Spight, 
In this last Wrong you did Him greatest Right, 
And (cross to all You meant) by Plucking down 475 

Lifted Him up to His Eternal Crown. 

With this Encircled in that radiant Sphear, 
Where thy black Murtherers must ne'r appear; 
Thou from th'enthroned Martyrs Blood-stain'd Line, 
Dost in thy Virtues bright Example shine. 480 

And when thy Darted Beam from the moist Sky 
Nightly salutes thy grieving Peoples Eye, 
Thou like some Warning Light rais'd by our fears, 
Shalt both provoke and still supply our Tears, 
Till the Great Prophet wak'd from his long Sleep, 485 
Again bids Sion for Josiah weep : 
That all Successions by a firm Decree 
May teach their Children to Lament for Thee. 

Beyond these Mournfull Rites there is no Art 
Or Cost can Thee preserve. Thy better Part 490 

Lives in despight of Death, and will endure 
Kept safe in thy Unpattern'd Portraicture: 



[153] 



ELEGIES 

Which though in Paper drawn by thine own Hand, 

Shall longer than Corinthian-Marble stand, 

Or Iron Sculptures: There thy matchless Pen 495 

Speaks Thee the Best of Kings as Best of Men: 

Be this Thy Epitaph; for This alone 

Deserves to carry Thy Inscription. 

And 'tis but modest Truth : ( so may I thrive 

As not to please the Best of thine Alive, 500 

Or flatter my Dead M aster ^ here would I 

Pay my last Duty in a Glorious Lye) 

In that Admired Piece the World may read 

Thy Virtues and Misfortunes Storied ; 

Which bear such curious Mixture, Men must doubt 505 

Whether Thou Wiser wert or more Devout. 

There live Blest Relick of a Saint-like mind. 
With Honours endless, as Thy Peace, Enshrin'd ; 
Whilst we, divided by that Bloody Cloud, 
Whose purple Mists Thy Murther'd Body shroud, 510 
Here stay behind at gaze : Apt for Thy sake 
Unruly murmurs now 'gainst Heav'n. to make. 
Which binds us to Live well, yet gives no Fence 
To Guard her dearest Sons from Violence. 
But He whose Trump proclaims. Revenge is mine, 515 
Bids us our Sorrow by our Hope confine. 
And reconcile our Reason to our Faith, 
Which in thy Ruine such Conclusions hath ; 
It dares Conclude, God does not keep His Word 
If Zimri dye in Peace that slew his Loi'd. 520 



[154] 



AN ELEGY UPON KING CHARLS THE FIRST 

From my sad Retirement 
March 11. 1648. 

CaroLUs stUart reX an- 
gLIas seCUre CoesUs 

Vita Cessit trICessIMo 
lanUarll. 



[155] 



POEMS 



3^ ELEGIES, 

In t!hat Admired Piece the World may read 
Thy Virtues and Misfortunes Storied ^ 
Which bear fuch curious Mixture, Men muft doubt 
Whether Thou pvifer wcrt or more Devout. 

There live Bleft Kcllck of a Saint-like mind, 
With Honours endlefs, as Thy Peace, Enfhrin'd j 
Whilft we, divided by that Bloody Cloud, 
Whofe purple Mifls Thy Murther'd Body (hroud. 
Here flay behind at gaze 2 Apt for Thy fake 
Unrnly murmurs now 'gainjfi Heav'n to make* 
Which binds us to Live welK yet gives no FewcO' 
To Guard her deareft Sons from Violence. 
But He whofe Trump proclaims, Revenue is me. 
Bids us Our Sorrow by our Hope confine > 
And reconcile our Reafo/i to our Faitby 
Which in thy B.uine fuch Conclufions hatlV j 
It dares Conclude, God docs not keep His Word 
If Zimri dye in ?cacc that [lew hi's Lord, 



From my fad Retirement 
t^arch II. 1^48. 

CaroLUs ST U art reX an-» 

oLIi^ 5£CUre CoBmS 

VIta CessIt trICe5«IMo 
][anUarIL 

{Facsimile of the colophon in the editio princeps.) 
[156] 



A 

DEEPE GROANE 

FETCHED 

At the FUNERALL of that incomparable and Glorious 
Monarch, 

CHARLES THE FIRST, 

King of Great Britainej France 
and Irelandj &c. 

On whose Sacred Person was acted that exe 

crable, horrid & prodigious Murther, by a trayterous 

Crew and bloudy Combination at Westminster 

January the 30. 1648. 

.... Heu fausta Britannia quondam 

Tola peris ea morte sua, Mors non fuit ejus 

Sed tua, non una haec, sed publica mortis imago. 

Written by D. H. K. 
(Device.) 

Printed in the Yeare, M. DC. XL. IX. 



A DEEP GROANE 



A DEEP GROANE, ^c. 

To speak our Griefes at full over thy Tombe 

(Great Soul) we should be Thunder-struck and dumbe: 

The trivlall Off'rings of our bubling eyes 

Are but faire Libels at such Obsequies. 

When Grief bleeds inward, not to sense, 'tis deepe ; 5 

W'have lost so much, that t'were a sinne to weep. 

The wretched Bankrupt counts not up his summes, 

When his inevitable ruine comes : 

Our losse is finite when we can compute; 

But that strike speechlesse, which is past recruite. 10 

Ware sunk to sense ; and on the Ruine gaze, 

As on a curled Commets iirie blaze : 

As Earth-quakes fright us, when the teeming earth 

Rends ope her bowels for a fatall birth ; 

As Inundations seize our trembling eyes; 15 

Whose rowling billows over Kingdomes rise. 

Alas! our Ruines are cast up, and sped 

In that black Totall — Charles is Murthered. 

Rebellious Gyant hands have broak that Pole, 

On which our Orbe did long in Glory roule. 20 

That Roman Monsters wish in act we see 

Three Kingdomes necks have felt the Axe in Thee, 

The Butcherie is such, as when by Caine, 

The fourth Devision of the world was slaine. 

The mangled Church is on the shambles lay'd, 25 

Her Massacre is on thy Block display'd, 

Thine is thy peoples epidemick Tombe, 

Thy Sacrifice a Num'rous Hecatombe. 

[159] 



POEMS 



The Powder-mine's now fir'd ; we were not freed, 

But respited by Traytours thus to bleed. 30 

Novembers plots are brew'd and broach'd In worse, 

And January now compleats the Curse. 

Our Lives, Estates, Lawes, and Religion, All 

Lie crush'd, and gashing In this dismall fall. 

Accursed day that blotted'st out our Light! 35 

May'st thou be ever muffled up in Night. 
At thy returne may sables hang the skle ; 
And teares, not beames, distill from Heavens Eye. 
Curs'd be that smile that guildes a Face on thee. 
The Mother of prodigious Villanie. 40 

Let not a breath be wafted, but in moanes; 
And all our words be but articulate groanes. 
May all thy Kubrick be this dismall Brand ; 
Now comes the miscreant Doomes-day of the Land. 
Good-Friday wretchedly transcrib'd ; and such 45 

As Horrour brings alike, though not so much. 
May Dread still fill thy minutes, and we sit 
Frighted to think, what others durst commit. 

A Fact that copies Angels when they fell. 
And justly might create another Hell. 50 

Above the scale of Crimes ; Treason sublim'd, 
That cannot by a parallel be rim'd. 
Raviliack's was but under-graduate sinne, 
And Goury here a Pupill Assassin 

Infidell wickednesse, without the Pale; 55 

Yet such as justifies the Canniball. 
Ryot Apochyphall of Legend breed ; 
Above the Canon of a Jesuites Creed. 



[160] 



A DEEP GROANE 



Spirits of witch-craft; quintessential guilt; 

Hels pyramid ; another Babell built. 60 

Monstrous in bulke ; above our Fancies span ; 

A Behemoth; a. Crime Leviathan, 

So desperately damnable, that here 

Ev'n Wild smels Treason, and will not appeare. 

That Murdering-peece of the new Tyrant-State, 65 

By whom't hath Shot black Destinies of late ; 

He that belched forth the Loyall Bui'leigh's doome, 

Recoyles at this so dreadful Martyrdome. 

What depth of Terrour lies in that Offence, 

That thus can grind a seared Conscience ? 70 

Hellish Complotment! which a League renewes, 
Lesse with the men, then th 'Actions of the Jewes. 
Such was their Bedlane Rabble, and the Cry 
Of Justice now, 'mongst them was Crucifie: 
Pilates Consent is Bradshawes Sentence here; 75 

The Judgement-hall's remov'd to Westminster. 
Hayle to the Reeden Scepture the Head, and knee 
Act o're againe that Cursed Pageantrie. 
The Caitiffe crew in solemn pompe guard on 
Mock'd Majestic as not to th'Block, but Throne, 80 

The Belch agrees of those envenom'd Lyes; 
There a Blasphemer, here a Murd'rer dyes. 
If that go first in horror, this comes next, 
A pregnant Comment on that gastly Text. 
The Heav'ns ne're saw, but in that Tragick howre, 85 

Slaughter'd so great an Innocence, and Bower. 

Bloud-thirsty Tygers! could no streame suffise 
T'allay that Hell within your Breasts but this? 



[161] 



POEMS 



Must you needs swill In Cleopatra s Cup, 

And drink the price of Kingdomes in a sup? 90 

Cisterns of Loyalty have deeply bled, 

And now y'have damm'd the Royall Fountaine Head, 

Cruell Phlebotomie! at once to draine 

The Median, and the rich Basilick veine : 

The tinctures great that popular murther brings, 95 

'Tis scarlet deep, that's dy'd in bloud of Kings. 

But what ! could Israel find no other way 
To their wish'd Canaan than through the Red Sea? 
Must God have here his deading Fire and Cloud, 
And he be th' Guide to this outragious Crowd? 100 

Shall the black Conclave counterfeit his hand. 
And superscribe their Guilt, Divine Commandf 
Doth th'ugly Fiend usurpe a Saint-like grace? 
And Holy-water wash the Devils face ! 
Shall Dagons Temple the mock'd Arke inclose? 105 

Can Esaus hands agree with Jacob's voyce? 
Must Molech's Fire now on the Altar burne ? 
And Abel's bloud to Expiation turne? 
Is Righteousnesse so lewd a Bawd? and can 
The Bibles Cover serve the Alcoranf 110 

Thus when Hel's meant, Religion's bid to shine 
As Faux his Lanterne lights him to his Mine. 
Here, here is sins non ultra, when one Lie 
Kils this, and stabs at Majestic. 

And though his sleepie Arme suspend the scourge, 115 

Nor doth loud Bloud in winged Vengeance urge. 
Though the soft houres a while in pleasures flie, 
And conquering Treason sing her Lullabie. 



[162] 



A DEEP GROANE 



The guilt at length in fury he'l inroule 

With barbed Arrows on the trayt'rous Soule. 120 

Time may be when that John-a-Leyden King 

His Quarters to this Tombe an Offring bring, 

And that Be-Munsterd Rabble may have eyes 

To read the Price of their deare Butcheries. 

Yet if just Providence reprieve the Pate, 125 

The Judgment will be deeper, though't be late. 

And After-times shall feel the curse enhanc'd, 

But how much They've the Sinne bequeathed, advanc'd. 

Meane time (most blessed shade) the Loyall Eye 
Shall pay her Tribute to thy Memorie, 130 

Thy Aromatick Name shall feast our sense, 
'Bove balmie Spiknard's fragrant Redolence, 
Whilst on thy loathsome Murderers shall dwell 
A plague-sore, blayne, and rotten ulcers smell. 
Wonder of Men and Goodnesse! stamp'd to be 135 

The Pride, and Flourish of all Historie. 
Thou hast undone the Annals, and engross'd 
All tWHeroes Glory which the Earth e're lost. 
Thy Priviledge 'tis onely to commence 
Laureate in Sufferings, and in Patience. 140 

Thy wrongs were 'bove all sweetnesse to digest ; 
And yet thy sweetnesse conquer'd the sharp test: 
Both so immense, and infinitely vast. 
The first could not be reach'd, but by the last. 
Meane Massacres are but in death begun 145 

But Thou hast Liv'd an Execution. 
Close coffin'd up in a deceased Life; 
Had Orphan-Children, and a Widow- Wife. 



[163] 



POEMS 



Friends not t'approach, or comfort, but to mourne 

And weep their unheard plaints, as at thy urne? 150 

Such black Attendants Colonied thy Cell, 

But for thy Presence, Carsbrooke had been Hell. 

Thus basely to be Dungeon 'd would enrage 

Great Bajazet beyond an Iron Cage. 

That deep indignity might have layne 155 

Something the lighter from a Tamerlaine. 

But here Sidonian Slaves usurp the Reines, 

And lock the Scepter-bearing Armes in chaines. 

The spew'd-up surfeit of the glut'nous Land; 

Honour 'd by scorne, and cleane beneath all brand. 160 

For such a Varlet-Brood to teare all downe. 

And make a common Foot-ball of the Crowne. 

T'insult on wounded Majesty, and broach, 

The bloud of Honour by their vile reproach. 

What royall eye but thine could sober see, 165 

Bowing so low, yet bearing up so high? 

What an unbroken sweetness grac'd thy Soule, 

Beyond the world, proud conquest, or controule? 

Maugre grim cruelty, thou keepst thy hold ; 

Thy thornie Crowne was still a Crown of Gold. 170 

Chast Honour, Might enrag'd could ne're defloure, 

Though others th'Use, Thou claim'dst the Right of 

( Power. 
The brave Athenian thus (with lopp'd-ofiE Hands) 
A stop to swelling sayles by's mouth commands. 
New Vigour rouz'd Thee still in thy Embroyles, 175 

Antaeus-likt, recruiting from the Foyles. 



[164] 



A DEEP GROANE 



Victorious fury could not terrour bring, 

Enough to quell a captivated King. 

So did that Roman Miracle withstand 

H etrurian shoales, but with a single hand. 180 

The Church in thee had still her Armies ; thus 

The World once fought with Athanasius, 

The Gantlet thus upheld ; It is decreed, 

(No safety else for Treason) Charles must bleed. 

Traytor and Soveraigne now inverted meet; 185 

The wealthy Olive's dragg'd to th' Brambles feet. 

The Throne is metamorphiz'd to the Barre, 

And despicable Batts the Eagles dare. 

Astonishment ! yet still we must admire 

Thy courage growing with thy conflicts high'r. 190 

No palsied hands or trembling knees betray 

That Cause, on which thy souls sure bottom'd lay. 

So free and undisturbed flew thy Breath, 

Not as condemned but purchasing a death. 

Those early Martys in their funerall pile, 195 

Embrac'd their Flames with such a quiet smile. 

Brave Coeur-de-Lyon Soule, that would 'st not vayle 

In one base syllable to beg thy Bayle ! 

How didst thou blush to live at such a price, 

As ask'd thy People for a sacrifice? 200 

T\\ Athenian Prince in such a pitch of zeale, 

Redeem'd his destin'd Hoast, and Common-weale ; 

Who brib'd his cheated Enemies to kill. 

And both their Conquest, and their Conquerour fell. 

Thus thou our Martyr died'st: but oh ! we stand 205 

A ransome for another Charles his Hand. 



[165] 



POEMS 



One that will write thy Chronicle in Red, 

And dip his Pen in what thy Foes have bled. 

Shall Treas'nous Heads in purpule Caldrons drench, 

And with such veines the Flames of Kingdomes quench. 

Then thou art least at Westminster, shall't be 211 

Fil'd in the Pompous List of Majestie. 

Thy Mausalaum shall in glory rise, 

And Teares, and wonder force from Nephews Eyes. 

Till when (though black-mouth'd Miscreants engrave) 

No Epitaph, but Tyrant, on thy Grave. 216 

A Vault of Loyalty shall keep thy Name, 

An Orient, and bright Olibian flame 

On which, when times succeeding foot shall tread, 

Such Characters as these shall there be read. 220 

Here CHARLES the best of Monarchs, butcher'd 
The Glory of all Martyrologies. (lies; 

Bulwark of Law ; the Churches Cittadell ; 
In whom they triumph'd once, with whom they fell : 
An English Salomon^ a Constantine; 225 

Pandect of Knowledge, Humane and Divine. 
Meek even to wonder, yet of stoutest Grace, 
To sweeten Majesty, but not debase. 
So whole made up of clemency, the Throne 
And Mercy-seat to Him were alwayes one. 230 

Inviting Treason with a pardoning look. 
Instead of Gratitude, a stab He took. 
With passion lov'd ; that when He murd'red lay, 
Heav'n conquered seem'd, and Hell to bear the sway. 
A Prince so richly good, so blest a Reigne, 235 

The world ne're saw but once, nor can againe. 



[166] 



A DEEP GROANE 



.... Humano generi Natura benigni 
Nil dedit, aut tribuet moderato hoc principe major 
In quo vera dei, vivensque eluxit imago : 
Hunc quoniam scelerata cohors violavit, acerbas 240 
Sacrilego Deus ipse petet de Sanguine poenas 
Contemptumque sin Simulachri haud linquet 

{inultum. 
Parodia ex Buchanani Geneth: Jacobi sexti. 

FINIS. 



[167] 



POEMS 



EPIGRAM 

Quid faciant Leges, vbi sola pecunia regnatf &c. 
Petron. Arbit. 

To what serue Lawes, where only Money reignes? 
Or where a poore mans cause no right obtalnes ? 
Even those that most austerity praetend, 
Hire out their Tongues, and wordes for profit lend. 

What's Judgment then, but publick merchandize? 

And the Court sits, but to allow the price. 



EPIGRAM 

Casta suo gladium cum traderet Arria Paeto, Sec. 

Martial. 

When Arria to hir Paetus had bequeath'd 
The sword in hir chast bosome newly sheath'd ; 
Trust mee (qth shee) My owne wound feeles no smart; 
'Tis thine (My Paetus) grleues and kills my heart. 



[168] 



EPIGRAM 



EPIGRAM 

Qui Pelago credit, magno se faenore tollit, &c. 
Petron. Arbit. 

He whose advent'rous keele ploughes ye rough Seas, 

Takes Interest of Fate for wealthes encrease. 

He that In Battalle trafficks, and pitch't Fieldes, 

Reapes wth his Sword rich Harvests, wch warre yeelds. 

Base parasites repose their drunken heads, 5 

Laden wth Sleep and wine, on Tyrian beds ; 

And he that meltes in Lustes adult'rous fire, 

Gets both reward and pleasure for his hire. 

But Learning only, midd'st this wanton heat. 

Hath (saue it self) nothing to weare or eat; 10 

Faintly exclaiming on the looser Times, 

That value Wit and Artes below their Crimes. 



EPIGRAM 

Pro captu lectoris habent sua fata libelli. 

The fate of Bookes is diverse as mans Sense 
Two Criticks ne're shar'd one intelligence. 



[169] 



ADDITIONAL POEMS 
HITHERTO UNPRINTED. 



UPON YE UNTIMELY DEATH OF J. K. 



Upon ye untimely death of J. K. first borne of HK, 

Blessed Spirit, thy Infant breath 

Fitter for the Quire of Saints 

Than for Mortalls here beneath, 

Warbles Joyes; but mine Complaints: 

Plaints that spring from that great Losse 5 

Of thy Litle Self, sad crosse. 

Yet doe I still repair thee by desire 

Wch warmes my benumb sense, but like false fire. 

But wth such delusive Shapes 

Still my pensive thoughts are eas'd. 10 

As Birds bating att mocke-grapes 

Are wth empty errour pleas'd. 

Yet I erre not: for decay 

Hath but seis'd thy House of clay 
For loo the lively Image of each part 15 

Makes deep impression on my waxy heart. 

Thus learn I to possess the thing I want; 

Having great store of thee, & yet great scant. 

O, lett mee thus recall thee, nor repine, 

Since what is thy Fate now, must once bee mine. 20 



[173] 



POEMS 



To one that demaunded 
why the wine sparkles. 

Wee doe not give the wine a sparkling name 
As if wee meant those sparkes employ'd a flame ; 
The flame lyes in our bloud: And tis desire 
Fed by loose appetite setts us on fire. 

[Then follow the last four lines of the printed version; 
i.e., sup. p. 40, lines 13-16.] 

To a Lady that sent mee a 
Coppy of Verses at my going to Bed. 

Doubtlesse the Thespian Spring doth overflow 

His Learned bank: Else how should Ladyes grow 

Such Poets? as to court th'unknowing time 

In verse, & entertaine their Friends in Rhime. 

Or you some Sybill are, sent to unty 5 

The knotty Riddles of all Poetry; 

Whilst your smooth Numbers such perfections tell, 

As prove your self a Moderne Oracle. 

[Then follow the last ten lines of the printed version; 
i.e., sup. p. 20, lines 13-16, p. 21, lines 1-6.] 

EPIGRAM 

Nolo quod cupio statlm tenere; 

Nee mctoria mi placet parata. Petron: Arb: 

I would not in my Love too soone prevaile: 
. An easy Conquest makes the purchase stale. 

[174] 



DOUBTFUL POEMS. 



A CONTEMPLATION UPON FLOWERS 



A Contemplation upon Flowers: 

Brave flowers, that I could gallant it like you 

and be as little vaine, 

you come abroad, and make a harmelesse shew, 

and to your bedds of Earth againe; 

you are not proud, you know your birth 5 

for your Embroiderd garments are from Earth : 

You doe obey your moneths, and times, but I 

would have it ever springe, 

my fate would know noe winter, never dye 

nor thinke of such a thing; 10 

Oh that I could my bed of Earth but view 

and Smile, and looke as chearefully as you: 

Oh teach me to see death, and not to feare 

but rather to take truce; 

how often have I scene you at a Beere, 15 

and there looke fresh and spruce; 

you fragrant flowers then teach me that my breath 

Like yours may sweeten, and perfume my death. 



[177] 



POEMS 



{THE COMPLAINT^ 

Fond, haples man, lost in thy vain desire; 

Thy lost desire, 

May now retire. 
Shee, like a salamander, in thy Flame, 

Sports wth Loves Name ; 5 

And, lives ye same, 
Vncingd, impenetrably cold. 
Sure, careles Boy, thou slepst : and Death instead 

Of thine, convey'd 

His Dart of Lead. 10 

This thou unluckily att hir hast sent; 

Who now is bent 

Not to relent. 
Though thou spend all thy shafts of Gold. 
I prethee filch another Fatall Dart: 15 

And peirce my Heart, 

To ease this smart. 
Strike all my senses dull. Thy Force devoures 

Mee, & my Powers, 

In taedious Houres; 20 

And thy iniustice lie proclame 
Or vse some Art to cause hir Heat returne ; 

Or whilst I burne. 

Make hir my Vrne. 
Where I may bury in a Marble chest, 25 

All my Vnrest. 

Thus hir cold Brest, 
Yf it but lodge, will quench, my Flame. 

[178] 



ON HIS SHADDOIV 



[On his Shaddow:] 

Come, my Shaddow, constant, true, 

Stay & doe not fly mee : 
When I court thee, or would sue, 

Thou willt not denie mee. 
Faemale Loves I find unkind, 5 

And devoyde of Pittie ; 
Therefore I have chang'd my mind, 

And to thee frame this dittie. 
Child of my Bodie, & that Flame 

From whence our Light were borrow; 10 
Thou continuest still the same 

In my Joy, or Sorrow. 
Though thou lov'st the Sunshine best 

Or enlighten'd places, 
Yet thou doest not flye, but rest, 15 

'Midst my black disgraces. 
Thou would 'st have all Happy Dayes 

When thou art approching: 
No Cloud, nor Night do dime bright rayes 

By their sad encroching. 20 

Let but glimmering Lights appear 

To banish Night's obscuring; 
Thou wilt shew thou harbourd'st nere 

By my side enduring. 
And when thou art forc't away 25 

By ye sun's declining. 
Thy Length is doubled, to repay, 

Thy Absence, whilst hee's shining. 

[179] 



POEMS 



As I flatter not thee Fair, 

So thou art not Fading. 30 

Age nor sicknes, can impair 

Thy Hue, by feirce invading. 
Lett ye purest varnish't Clay 

Art can shew, or Nature, 
Veiw the Shades they cast; & they 35 

Grow duskish like thy Fasture. 
'Tis thy Truth I most comend ; 

That thou art not fleeting. 
For as I embrace my Freind, 

So thou giv'st him greeting. 40 

Yf I strike, or keep ye peace, 

So thou seem'st to threaten, 
And single blowes by thy increase 

Leave my Foe double beaten. 
As thou find'st mee walke, or sitt, 45 

Standing, or downe lying, 
Thou doest all my postures hitt, 

Most Apish in thy prying. 
When our Actions so consent, 

(Expressions dumb, but locall,) 50 

Words are needles Complement, 

Else I could wish thee vocall 
Hadst thou but a soul, wth sense 

And Reason sympathising 
Earth could match, nor heav'n dispense 5S 

A Mate so farr entising. 
Nay, when bedded in ye Dust 

'Mongst shades I have my biding, 



[180] 



WISHES TO MY SONNE JOHN 



Tapers can see thy Posthume trust 

Within my vault residing. 60 

Had heav'n so plyant Women made, 

Or thou their Souls couldst marry 
rid soone resolve to wedd my shade, 

This Love would ne'r miscarry. 
But they thy Lightnes onely share; 65 

Yf shunn'd, the more they follow: 
And to Pursuers peevish are 

As Daphne to Apollo. 
Yet this experience Thou hast taught: 

A Shee-Freind, and an Honour, 70 

Like thee ; nor That, nor Shee, is caught 

Vnles I fall vpon hir. 

Wishes to my sonne John, for this new, 
and all succeeding yeares: Jan. i. 1630: 

If wishes may enrich my Boy, 

my Jack, that art thy fathers Joy, 

they shall be showr'd upon thy head 

as thick as manna, Angells bread ; 

And bread I wish thee, this short word 5 

will furnish both thy backe, and boord; 

not fortunatus purse, or Capp, 

nor danaes gold-replenisht Lapp 

can more supply thee; but content 

is a large patrimony, sent 10 

from him who did thy soule infuse, 

maist thou this best endowment use 



[181] 



POEMS 



in any state; Thy structure is 

I see compleate ; A frontispice 

promising faire; may it nere bee 15 

Like Jesuites volumes, where we see 

Vertues, and Saints adorne the front, 

doctrines of deuills follow on't : 

may a pure soule inhabite still 

this, well mixt clay ; and a streight will 20 

By act by Reason, that by grace; 

May Gemmes of price maintaine their place 

in such a Caskett: For that list 

Chast Turkois, sober Amethist, 

that sacred breast plate still surround. 25 

Urim, and Thummim be there found, 

which for thy wearing I designe 

that in thee Kinge and priest may Joyne : 

As 'twas thy Grandsires choice, and mine 

maist thou attaine John the diuine 30 

chief e of thy Titles ; though Contempt 

now brand the Clergie; bee exempt 

I euer wish thee, from each vice 

that may that Calling scandalize: 

Let not thy tongue with court oyle flow, 35 

nor Supple Language lay thee low 

for thy preferment; make Gods cause 

thy pulpits taske, not thine applause; 

maist thou both preach by Line, and life; 

That thou Hue well and Chaste, a Wife 40 

I wish thee, such as is thy Sires, 

a lawfull helpe 'gainst lustfull fires; 



[182] 



IN OBITUM SANCTISSIMI 



And though promotions often frowne 

on marryed browes, yet lye not downe 

in single bawdry; impure monkes 45 

that banish wedlock, license punkes; 

Peace I doe wish thee from those warres 

which Gowne-men talke out at the Barres 

some times a yeare; I wish thee peace 

of Conscience, Country, and encrease 50 

in all that best of men commends, 

favour with God, good men thy friends; 

Last, for a lasting legacy 

I this bequeath, when thou shalt dye 

Heauens monarch blesse mine eyes, to see 55 

my wishes crowned, in crowning thee. 



\_In obitum sanctissimi viri Di. Dris. Spenseri 

C: C : C: nuper Praesidis et spectatissimi 

sui amici 

ELEGUS.] 

If this tru sorrow counted be with fatall Cypresse 

bowes 
Or palish twiggs of poplar tree to binde our mourne- 

full browes 
Or to transforme to direfull shapes our variable 

lookes 
Or moisten dry and witherd cheakes with wett and 

weeping brookes 

[183] 



POEMS 



What store of dropps, what show'rs of teares should 5 

flow then from mine eyes 
What fun'rall rites then should I pay to thy sad 

exequies. 
But plaininge words, and bablinge greafe do nought 

prevaile at all 
They ill befitt both my small quill, and thy greate 

funerall 
For who so doth lament thy death or straine a faigned 

crie 
Or on the earth doth grovelinge looke, with a downe 10 

fixed eye 
He rather doth expresse his greafe, showinge how't 

should be done 
Then feel't himselfe. It's not one thinge to babble 

much; and mone. 
Nor weeps he wch with sobbrie blurrs his paper white 

bismeares 
For they are more Rhetorically then tru affected teares 
Lett those mourne so, who often vse such solemne 15 

rites to keep 
Who by sett methode can lament, who by their Art 

can weepe. 
Or who with common vulgare greafe deplore on thy 

sad grave 
Or not that du doe render thee wch thy deserts doe 

crave 
I loath such meanes by wch most men their sorrowes 

doe bewTay 

[184] 



IN OBITUM SANCTISSIMI 



To vente my greafe I must finde out a more effectuall 20 

way 
He therefore elevate my heart, vpp to mine Optick 

Spheares 
And theare dissolve it into sighs, and melt it into 

teares 
And sine I can noe greater debts pay to thy mourne- 

fuU hearse 
Lett it suffice to decke the same, with a teare-stillinge 

vearse 
Or else Fie smother vpp my greafe within my seacrete 25 

breast 
For I a wittness to my teares abhorre and eke detest. 



[185] 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE. 

The MSS. referred to in the Notes to the present 
edition are in very few cases from Henry King's own 
hand. They are for the most part simply ''commonplace 
books," albums of verse, or casual stray collections, which 
possess critical value only because of the peculiar publish- 
ing conditions or customs in this period. Much more 
important than these codices, however, which are mere 
haphazard copying or jotting down of single poems by 
many different poets, the scribes never being named and 
the authors seldom so, are the "MS. volumes" devoted 
to the work of a single writer, — carefully written compila- 
tions which were circulated before the author or some 
piratical publisher printed his collected effusions. One 
such "MS. volume" of Henry King's poems is in the 
Bodleian Library and has been collated for this edition; 
another, which has since disappeared, was collated by 
Hannah ; and there are traces of two more. 

Aside from certain poems contributed to "Jonsonus 
Virbius," Sandys' "Paraphrase," "The Swedish Intelli- 
gencer," and the first edition of Donne's poems, Henry 
King's first published English poems were his two Elegies 
on King Charles I, dated 1649. The first of these 
(137-155, sup.) was subsequently reprinted and bound 
up with the other additional Elegies in the 1664 re-issue 
of his collected poems. The second (pp. 157-167, sup.), 
twice reprinted in 1649, is here for the first time restored 
to its place among his collected poems. 

[187] 



POEMS 



King's volume of poems appeared first in 1657, in 
circumstances best explained by the printer-publishers 
themselves in their Preface reprinted on pages 9-11, 
sup. The unsold copies of this edition were re-issued in 
1664, with a slightly different title-page reproduced in 
facsimile on p. 7, sup. Finally, the remaining copies 
were again re-issued in 1700, with a new variant of the 
title-page now bearing the preposterous ascription of the 
whole volume to "Ben Johnson." 

Selected "Poems and Psalms by Henry King D D" 
appeared in 1843, edited by Rev. J. Hannah and published 
by William Pickering, London. 

Smaller selections, without annotation, are T. B. 
Mosher's in "The Bibelot," Portland, Maine, for March, 
1897, and J. R. Tutin's in No. V of "The Orinda Book- 
lets," Cottingham near Hull, England, 1904. 

For the sake of completeness, it may be stated further 
that King's "The Psalms of David from the New Trans- 
lation of the Bible, Turned into Meter," was published 
first in 1651; re-issued, with a few additions, in 1654; 
republished in a genuine second edition, in 1671; and 
finally included in part (to the extent of fifteen Psalms 
and four Hymns or Prayers) in Playford's "Psalms & 
Hymns in Solemn Musick," 1671. 

His published sermons appeared singly for the most 
part, in the years 1621, 1625, 1626, 1627 (two bound 
together), 1628 (eleven bound together; 2d ed., 1634), 
1640, 1661 (2d ed., 1713), 1662, 1663, and 1665. To 
these theological writings must be added the brief 
"Articles" of his "first Episcopal Visitation," 1662. 



[188] 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 



His Latin and Greek Verse, and some of his Letters, 
appeared or have since been published scatteringly in 
various places calling for more detailed mention than can 
be vouchsafed in the present brief summary. (For com- 
plete Bibliography, cf. "Transactions of the Connecticut 
Academy of Arts and Sciences/' vol. xviii, 260-289 ; Yale 
University Press, 1913.) 



[189] 



NOTES 

upon a Table-Book. 

14,1 "Table-book": book of tables or tablets, i.e., blank 
pages. 

The Farenvell. 

15, 1 The authorship of a very similar piece is discussed in 
a note, p. 226 (3), inf. The Latin motto was apparently- 
taken from Sidney's sonnet beginning "Leave me, O Love, 
which reachest but to dust," for no other occurrence of the 
sentence has been noticed. 
15,4, 5 Malone MS. 22, fol. 13v., reads as follows: 
To dote on those that lov'd not, & to fly 
Love that woo'd mee. Goe, bane of my content, 
16,21,22 Ibid.: 

And for an Epitaph, the Rock shall groane 
Eternally: if any ask the Stone 

A Black-moor Maid and The Boyes Ansiuer. 

16, 17 These two pieces were exceedingly popular, if we may 
judge by the number of MSS. in which they appear, by 
the frequent handling of the same theme by other poets, 
and by the appearance of an anonymous third "stanza" in 
rejoinder (cf. Sloane MS. 1446, fol. 71v.). Thus numerous 
variations in detail naturally appear, the most important 
of which are the exchange of roles, making the Boy the 
wooer, and the shortening of the last line in both "stanzas" 
from an alexandrine to a pentameter. Who "Hen. 
Rainolds" may have been does not appear. Wood mentions 
no one of this name. He may have been the author of 
"Mythomystes," with whom Drayton corresponded in verse. 
And several of the songs in Lawes' "Ayres and Dialogues," 
1653 and 1655, are signed by this name, but "A Black-moor 
Maid" is not among them. 

[191] 



NOTES 



Sonnet: Go thou that 'vainly. 

20,4 "Slumber" is here a transitive verb, with "pain" as 
direct object. 

Sonnet: Tell me you stars. 

24, 1 In one MS., this piece is entitled "Love ill Requited," and 
line 10 begins: "Wch I suppose does in." 

Sonnet: I Prethee. 

25,10 "Turnes": that sun which turns sooty (i.e., tans) the 
Indian. 

Sonnet: Dry those fair. 

25, 1 In one MS., this piece is entitled "To his discontented 
Mrs." 

Sonnet: When I entreat. 

26, 1 In the MSS., this piece is entitled "To a Faire Lady 
Weeping," or "To A discouraged Sutor." 

To a Lady. 

26, 1 For an earlier version of this piece, cf. p. 174, sup., and 
Note. 

The Pink. 

27, 1 In the Editio Princeps this emendation appears in the list 
of Errata printed on the last page of the original volume: 
"Paffe 2. The Pink never wrote by the Author of these 
Poems." The typographical and grammatical blunders do 
not enhance the critical authority of this statement, and it 
is controverted by several MS. ascriptions to King. 

28, 19 The original list of Errata supplies a necessary emen- 
dation, concurred in by the MSS.: "aire" for "she." 

[192] 



NOTES 



To his Friends of Christ-Church. 

28, 1 This special performance of Barton Holiday's "Texno- 
tamia: or The Marriages of the Arts," given at Wood- 
stock before the King, August 26, 1621, occasioned an 
inter-university war of wits in which the capital and court 
did not disdain to join. 

28. 3 George Ruggle's clever Macaronic satire, "Ignoramus," 
went through ten editions between 1630 and 1787. Its two 
performances before the King, at Cambridge, March 8 and 
May 13, 1615, provoked Oxford's attempt to achieve a 
similar success and at least share in the royal approbation 
and favor. Henry King's outspoken indignation and 
chagrin indicate the extent of Oxford's failure and dis- 
appointment. 

28. 4 A hobby-horse figures in a broadly farcical passage in 
each play, but Ruggle's use of the device is certainly far 
more clever and amusing than Holiday's. 

28, 11-14 Perhaps some light is here cast on the vexed question 
of Malvolio's Puritanism (cf. Furness' Variorum "Twelfth 
Night," pp. 397-402). 

The Surrender. 

29, 1 This piece is variously entitled in the MSS., "An Elegy," 
"A Farwell to his beloved Mistris," or "The mournefull 
partinge of Tow Lovers beinge caused by ye disproportion 
of estates," and line 14 sometimes reads: "And chaste 
embraces such as never brake." 

29,5-8 Headley ("Select Beauties," 1810, II, 96) calls atten- 
tion to Pope's adaptation of these lines, in "Eloisa to 
Abelard," 8, 9. 

The Legacy. 
31,19 "Cast ragge": cf. 36, 12. 

32,31,32 A reference to the classical myth of Venus and 
Adonis. 

[193] 



NOTES 



The Short Wooing, 

33, 9-12 As love springs into existence at first sight or not at 
all, so judgment also should be delivered at first sight. 

To his unconstant Friend. 
36,7 "Banes": representing MS. abbreviation of '*bann(e)s." 

36. 11 This misprint, "lad," appears in all the original printed 
copies, but is corrected in various MSS. to "lay'd" or "laid." 
Another MS. emendation is "had perisht" for "do perish," 
in line 16. 

36.12 Cf. 31, 19 

36,23-34 A strangely exact parallel is afforded by "Le Roman 
de la Rose," ed. 'Pierre Marteau,' Orleans, 1878, lines 
17,261-8. 

37, 59 Obviously, a reference to Ariosto, not to "As You Like 
It." 

Madam Gabrina. 

38, 1 Henry King is by no means the worst offender among the 
many versifiers who followed the unsavory lead of Horace 
(cf. line 8) and Martial in dealing with this theme. The 
Spanish motto, indicating the fashionable linguistic affecta- 
tion of the day (cf. p. 82, line 43, sup.), signifies literally: 
"With a bad Woman the remedy (is) much ground in 
between." 

38,7 "Orpment": orpiment, auripigment, a yellow dye; tri- 
sulphide of arsenic. 

39, 18 "Ember weeks," periods of fasting and abstention from 
flesh, would of course emphasize especially the industry of 
"Fishstreet." 

39,21 "Bulleins Bulwarke of defence against all Sickness, 

Sornes, and Woundes Gathered and practised from 

the raoste worthie learned, both old and newe, to the greate 
-comforte of mankinde:" London, 1562, records on fol. 



[194] 



NOTES 



LXXXI the prevailing opinion as to the sanative value of 
the fox against "all Coldnesse, Palsey, and the contraxion 
of the sinewes, and trembling of the body." 
40,44 "Night-peece": cf. p. 88, 32. King's sermons supply 
illustrations: "But peradventure it w^as a night-piece, and 
not fit to be perused by every light. Well, then, apply their 
owne I^nis fatuus to it" (1621, p. 54). "If ever Rest were 
drawen to the life, 'tis in that most exact Night-peece, 
Death" (1627, p, 24). 

The Defence. 

40, 1 In the MSS. this piece is entitled, "A Lover to one yt 
misiudged his Mrs." The Spanish motto signifies: "Lovers 
think that others have unsound eyes" ; the comma should be 
omitted, and the last two words printed as one. 

40,3 "Form": Latin "forma," beauty. 

40, 12 Win my free suffrage, or gratify my free taste. 

To One demanding. 

41, 1 For an earlier version of this piece, cf. p. 174, sup., and 

Note. 
42,26 "Carthusian," a monk of this ascetic order; "Rechabite," 
cf. Jeremiah, XXXV. 

On the birth of the Prince. 

42,1 Prince Charles, later King Charles II, is the subject of 
this piece. The astronomical allusions in 42, 10 and 
44, 64 are explained by the title of some lines in Malone 
MS. 21, fol. 3: "On ye birth of Pr: Charles May 29, 1630 
wn a star appeared next day at noone, & an Eclipse of ye 
Sun the next day following." The various contemporaneous 
accounts differ irreconcilably as to the day and hour when 
these celestial portents were vouchsafed. 

[195] 



NOTES 



44, 47 The metre may readily be amended by adopting the 
reading inscribed in early MS. in one of the British 
Museum's copies of the original edition, 1664 re-issue: "But 
here with fate we dally," etc. 

45, 67-72 May Charles I transfer his virtue to his son, by 
training, and thus the Prince may be crowned (with 
virtue) but not at the cost of Charles Vs death. 

On the King's return. 

45, 1 Charles' expedition was by no means a wise or successful 
one (to receive the crown of Scotland, June 18, 1633) ; so 
King does well to avoid touching upon the political aspects 
of the event. 

To the Queen at Oxford. 

47, 1 Probably addressed to Queen Henrietta Maria, during 
her visit to Oxford in 1636; but the date cannot be definitely 
fixed. 

On his Majesties Ship the Soveraign. 

49, 1 Hannah (p. 209) cites Evelyn's Diary, under date of 
February 2, 1696, to show the dates of building and destruc- 
tion: "The Royal Sovereign man of war was burnt at Chat- 
ham. It was built in 1637, and having given occasion to the 
levy of Ship-money was perhaps the cause of all the after- 
troubles to this day." This is an excessive imputation; but 
the building of the ship was a very unpopular and impoli- 
tic enterprise, and the various poetic eulogies could have 
aroused little applause outside of the court. Henry King 
again attempted to vindicate his royal master in his Anni- 
versary Sermon, at Paul's, 1640, pp. 52, 53. 

49,3 "Blew": cf. Milton's "Comus," line 26. 

49,18 "Tires": broadsides, volleys; or perhaps for "tiers" or 
rows of guns, as suggested by the form, "Tyers," in which 
the word appears in Ashmole MS. 38, fol. 141, where the 
piece is entitled "On the Great shipp." 



[196] 



NOTES 



Epitaph on the Earl of Dorset. 

50, 1 Richard Sackville, third Earl of Dorset, who died March 
28, 1624, at the age of 35, is here lamented. This piece 
appeared in the 1647 edition of Bishop Corbet's "Poems," 
p. 51; but the evidence in favor of King's authorship is 
considerable. The Corbet version is incomplete and 
inferior; King had affiliations with Dorset through Donne, 
and through the elder Dorset's chancellorship at Oxford 
during Bishop John King's vice-chancellorship; Henry 
King's Will (quoted by Hannah, p. 179) shows that he was 
a "faithfully approved friend" of the Earl, for whom he 
"was engaged" to the extent of an unrepaid thousand 
pounds; and finally the poetic manner is decidedly Henry 
King's, and there are many close parallels between this 
piece and King's sermons and undoubted poems. 

Elegy on his Wife's Death. 

51,1 Almost all the MSS. agree in amending this title thus: 
"The Exequy. To his Matchless never to be forgotten 
Freind." 

51, 17 MS. reading: "To mee that mourne:" 

52,34 MS. reading: "Like a falne starr is fled & gone," 

53,49 MS. reading: "n'ere more shall I" 

53, 55 Wrongly punctuated ; insert period after parenthesis, 
and capitalize "that." 

53, 61 Insert comma after "her." 

54,83 MS. reading: "Good night, thou never more shalt wake" 

54, 90 "Hallow" appears in all the original printed volumes of 

King's poems; yet all the editors and publishers since 1700 
print "hollow," without giving explanation or authority. It 
happens that "hollow" is the form given in 9 early MS. 
versions; but the emendation is unnecessary, at best, for 
"The English Dialect Dictionary," ed. J. Wright, 1902, III, 
34, shows that "hallow" was used to mean "hollow, 



[197] 



NOTES 



sunken," "in Sc. and various counties"; and furthermore, at 
worst, the emendation is a serious blunder, if Henry King 
intended to use the word "hallow" in its etymological 
sense, i.e., "holy." 
55, 111-114 This is the quatrain which Poe accused Long- 
fellow of plagiarizing in the fourth stanza of the "Psalra 
of Life." Cf. Foe's "Works," ed. Stedman and Woodberry, 
1895, VI, 194. 

Elegy on the Death of tivo of his Children. 

57, 1 Thomas Goffe's elegy on the death of Henry King's 
wife (cf. "Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of 
Arts and Sciences," xviii, 236) shows that two sons had 
died before her; the "two children" here lamented, there- 
fore, must have been Henry King's third and sixth born, 
little Anne and the fifth son. Only two of his children sur- 
vived this bereavement, viz., John and Henry. 

A Letter. 

57, 1 It is impossible to identify the particular nobleman here 
addressed. 

60, 61, 62 The period after "agree" should be omitted, and 
perhaps we should substitute an apostrophe before the "s" 
in "parts" for the comma after it. 

60,67 "Indent": sign a contract, pledge oneself. 

An Acknoiuledgment. 
62,42 "Road": harbor, anchorage. 

The Departure. 

64,6 "Largest": freest; i.e., (most) unhampered by poetic 
rules and restrictions. 

65,47 A poor line, metrically. The MSS. suggest no emenda- 
tion. 



[198] 



NOTES 



Paradox: That it is best for a Young Maid, 

67,18 "Calenture": a tropical fever, or sun-stroke, character- 
ised by delirium. The word was a recent importation from 
Spain. 

68.46 "Drill": a rill or small stream. 

68.47 "Floated": flooded. 

68,57 "Fontinells": etymologically, the diminutive of fountain; 
this sense is quibblingly intended here, in combination with 
the medical meaning, discharge or issue. 

68, 69ff "Erra-Pater," the corrupt form of an ancient Jewish 
astrologer's name, eminent but legendary, came at last to 
mean simply an almanac. As late as 1683 the almanacs 
were also astrological "prognostications" ; King here 
borrows their absurd terminology. 

Paradox: That Fruition destroys Love. 

69, 4 A quibble on "Act" in the sense of "result" or "effect," 
and in the sense intended in I. 50, p. 70, inf. 

71,75-77 This is the jargon of alchemy; a quibble seems 
intended upon the alchemists' frequent employment of the 
analogy of human generation, in their treatises on the 
transmutation or creation of metals. 

71,78 "Third Ague fits": paroxysms of tertian fever. 

The Change. 

73,1 The Spanish motto signifies: "The wise man changes 

his opinion: the fool persists (in his)." 
73, 19, 20 The literal Rabbinical conception of a permanent 

terrestrial Paradise. 

To my Sister Anne. 

74, 1 The youngest sister of Henry King was a spirited and 
talented girl. Her poetic skill was highly commended by 
James Howell (cf. "Ep. Ho-el.," under February 3, 1637, 

[199] 



NOTES 



and March 26, 1643) and Izaak Walton, as well as by her 
brother, and she inspired versified tributes by Jasper 
Mayne (cf. Harl. MS. 6931, ff. 59-60v.) and others. 

Elegy on Lady Rich. 

75, 1 "Lady Anne Cavendish, first wife of Robert Lord Rich 
.... only daughter of William Cavendish, second Earl 
of Devonshire, by Christian, only daughter of Edward 
Lord Bruce of Kinlosse," as Hannah (p. 184) quotes from 
Brydges' "Funeral Memorials," p. 6. She died in the 
summer of 1638. Her husband was the grandson of the 
famous Lady Rich who was Sir Philip Sidney's "Stella." 
This formal elegiac tribute implies no close relationship on 
Henry King's part. 

77,52-58 "Northumberland": cf. Notes to p. 121,1, and to p. 
122, 33. 

Elegy on Mrs. Kirk. 

78, 1 This is King's poorest effort in the field of elegy, — cold, 
artificial, extravagant; evidently no personal relationship 
existed here. Robert Heath composed an "Epicedium" on 
the same subject, which has even less feeling and certainly 
less cleverness and finish than King's. And Glapthorne 
capped the descending climax in two long and frigidly 
bombastic absurdities "On the Noble, and much to be 
lamented Mrs. Anne Kirk, wife to Mr. Geo. Kirk, Gent, 
of the Robes, of his Majesties Bed-Chamber, who was 
unfortunately drowned passing London Bridge, July 6. 
1641." 

Elegy on Edivard Holt. 

80, 1 "Edward Holt, son and heir of Sir Thomas Holt, of 
Aston, Warwickshire, married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of 
Bishop John King. He died at Oxford, in the year 1643, 
and was buried in the Cathedral of Christ Church on the 
30th of August in that year." — Hannah, p. 206. Henry 

[200] 



NOTES 



King's Will, written in 1653, repeats these charges against 
the elder Holt. 

Elegy on Ben Jonson. 

81, 1 King must have known Jonson at Court. This poem first 
appeared in March (presumably: cf. Cunningham's ed. of 
Gifford's "Jonson," 1875, ix, 421), 1638, in the volume 
called "Jonsonus Virbius," collected and published (anony- 
mously) by Bishop Bryan Duppa in memory of Ben 
Jonson. King's tribute stands fifth among the twenty-six 
English poems, preceded by the work of title-bearing 
authors only. 

81, 1-3 The old Greek superstition that a house surrounded by 
laurel growths could not be struck by lightning. 

81, 13-16 The punctuation given in "Jonsonus Virbius" removes 
the obscurity: a colon should replace the semicolon in line 
14, and the comma should come after "desire" instead of 
after "adde" in line 15. Then the sense is this: 'and, since 
I can add nothing except in inclination and good intention, 
let not your learned shadow scorn me because I pay 
meaner rites and merely restore to you your own, some 
echoes of your own inspiration.' 

Elegy on Prince Henry. 

83, 1 The story of this truly noble young Prince's life and 
death is nowhere more quaintly told than in the annotated 
version of "Aulicus Coquinariae" included in "The Secret 
History of the Court of James I," Edinburgh, 1811, II, 
239-252. This is the earliest English poem of King's that 
can be definitely dated, for he was not yet twenty-one years 
old at the time of the Prince's death, November 6, 1612. 

83,5,6 The MSS. supply several variant readings; e.g.: 
"Low as the Center. Death and horrour wed 
To vent their teemeing misscheife: Henry's dead." 

83,11 MS. reading: "Compendious eloquence of Death!" 

[201] 



NOTES 



84,15 MS. reading: "At Earthes last dissolution"; an almost 

indispensable emendation. 
84, 18 MS. reading: "Throngs in this narrowe compasse, 

Henry's dead." 

Eleffy on S. W. R. 

84, 1 Several MSS. give the meaning of these initials, and 
William Oldys, in his great Life prefixed to his ed. of the 
"History of the World," 1736, I, ccxxxi, quotes this elegy 
in full as a favorable exemplar of the "several testimonies 
in verse of Sir Walter Ralegh's heroick comportment at 
his death." Ralegh was executed October 29, 1618. For 
a possible continuation of King's poem, cf. Note, p. 226 (2). 
inf. 

84,6 The MSS. supply a superior reading; the substitution of 
"maisterd'st" for "master'd" removes the existing conflict 
between lines 6 and 8. 

Elegy on Bishop John King. 

85, 1 To Henry King's Sermon vindicating his father's ortho- 
doxy, November 25, 1621, readers are referred for a far 
more fitting expression of his filial feelings. But these 
lines, though they seem somewhat cold and formal, were 
highly approved of by Fuller and various early biog- 
raphers and anthologists. The elder King died March 
30, 1621, after a long and painful illness. 

86, 5-8 John King's modest instructions concerning his tomb 
were obeyed in letter only, for an Epitaphium, an Anagram, 
two Chronograms (cf. Note to p. 155), and two long Latin 
eulogies were engraved on a large tablet set up beside his 
grave, in St. Paul's Cathedral. 

86, 8 A marginal note, in the editio princeps, informs us that 
this single word which John King selected for his epitaph 
was Resurgam. 

[202] 



NOTES 



86, 13, 14 This poor pun on the family surname was based 
upon the family claim of descent from the early Saxon 
monarchs of Devonshire. 

86, 19 The third and last of the "Errata" noted in the original 

printed edition of Henry King's poems is this: "Pag. 100. 
lin. 3. for Mattox read Mattocks." 

Elegy on John Donne. 

86, 1 This piece was first printed in the 1633 ed. of Donne's 
'Toems," where it heads the group of memorial tributes in 
verse. When entering the ministry, Donne was ordained 
by Bishop John King, with whom he stood on very friendly 
terms; his friendship with Henry King thus began early 
and was very intimate, culminating in the latter's serving 
as literary executor of the great Dean of St. Paul's. 

87, 8 "Hatchments": achievements, in the heraldic sense; the 
secondary meaning has become the commonly accepted one, 
— i.e., funeral drapery on which the family arms were 
emblazoned. Cf. "Hamlet," IV, v, 214. 

87, 20 In the version printed in Donne's "Poems," the period at 
the close of this line is very properly omitted. 

87, 29ff Walton describes this scene graphically in his "Life 
of Donne," 1658 ed., pp. 103-105. In January, 1631, Donne 
preached his last sermon, upon Ps. LXVIII, 20; rising 
from his sick-bed to do so, he returned to his death-bed. 
In the 2d ed. of Donne's "Poems," 1635, and the following 
edd., this marginal note is inserted opposite lines 9, 10: 
His last Sermon at Court. 

Elegy on Gustavus Adolphus. 

89, 1 This elegy was first printed in "The Swedish Intelli- 
gencer," London, a kind of bulletin-record of Gustavus' 
military career. Of the ten elegies appended to the Third 
Part, King's is the only one signed. For his possible 
authorship of one of the others, cf. Note, p. 225 (1), inf. 

[203] 



NOTES 



89, 3-9 One of the "twinn'd mountains" is composed "of bound- 
less sorrow" for Gustavus' death, evidently. "T'other of 
sin," King continues: for let no one consider it anything 
less than monstrous sin "to begin where honour ends," i.e., 
to continue where honor has ceased, or, to be dishonorable; 
for honor has been extinguished with Gustavus, and hardly 
survives as a mere empty name with us. 

90,26 MS. reading: "faine." 

92, 96 Marginal note in editio princeps: Magis triumphati 
quam <victi. Tacit, de mor. Ger. 

93,118 "string": part of the mechanism of the old-fashioned 
fusee watch, by means of which the declining power of the 
relaxing spring was compensated. "With" is used in its 
original sense of "against." 

93,127,128 "Cassiopeian": In this constellation a brilliant 
new star appeared, in 1572, and then afterwards dis- 
appeared as suddenly. Tycho Brahe's notice of it, De 
Stella Nova, was construed in the English translation, 
1632, as a prophecy of Gustavus' greatness (Gustavus was 
born in 1594). (Cf. Hannah, 182.) 

93, 133-135 This quotation, which does not appear in the MSS. 
or in "The Swedish Intelligencer," is correctly referred by 
Hannah (72) to Aeneid XI, 124-125. The mistaken refer- 
ence to the Aeneid, "lib. 2," is presumably due to the con- 
fusion of English or Arabic eleven with Roman two. "Rex 
Gustave" has been substituted for "Vir Troiane." 

To Sir Henry Blount. 

94, 1 No details of Henry King's friendship with Sir Henry 
Blount are known, but it seems to have been a long-standing 
one (99, 142) ; perhaps King's unsatisfied taste for travel 
accounts for his liking for the noted travellers Blount, 
James Howell, and the Sandys brothers. Blount's "Voyage" 
was his celebrated book entitled, "A Voyage into the Levant, 
or a brief Relation of a Journey lately performed from 



[204] 



NOTES 



England by way of Venice into Dalmatia, Sclavonia, Bos- 
nato, Hungary, Macedonia, Thessaly, Thrace, Rhodes, and 
Egypt, unto Grand Cairo, &c." London, 1636. 2d ed. 4to. 
The book went through eight edd. between 1636 and 1671. 
If King's repeated "Sir" may be taken as a friendly com- 
plimentary allusion to a recently received honor, then the 
poem may well be dated about 1640; for Blount was 
knighted March 21, 1640. 

95, 32 The following entry appears in the catalogue of the 
Rawlinson MSS., in the Bodleian: "Tomumbeius, sive Sul- 
tanici in Aegypto imperii eversio, tragoedia nova. Auctore, 
Georgio Salterno Bristoensi. Late XVIth Century. The 
reference is to Tuman bey, made sultan of Egypt in 1516." 
Cf. Cambuscan, for Genghiz Khan; Tamerlaine (p. 164, 
156, inf.), for Timur Leng; etc. 

95,36 "Secure": to prevent or preclude (a person) from doing 
something dangerous or harmful ; this sense of the word is 
now obsolete. The New Eng. Diet, gives 1633 as the date 
of its earliest example. 

97.86 *'Meschit": mescheeto, or mosque. 

97.87 "Mufty": official head of the established church in 
Turkey. 

98,138 "Staple": market, or exchange; obviously, a center of 
information is here intended, as in Jonson's play, "The 
Staple of Newes," 1625. 

To George Sa7tdys. 

99, 1 This piece was first printed in the 1638 ed. of Sandys' 
"Paraphrase upon the Divine Poems," where it follows two 
tributes by the only titled eulogist, Falkland, and precedes 
eight others, including the Archbishop's laudatory Impri- 
matur. George Sandys (1578-1644), seventh and youngest 
son of the Archbishop of York, must have come into 
friendly contact with Henry King at court and in the church. 
Some authorities have assigned to Sandys a very important 



[205] 



NOTES 



position in the evolution of the heroic couplet; if so, King 
may well owe much to his friend's influence. Cf. Introd., 
p. 4, sup. 

100, 23 This marginal note appears opposite this line, in the 
editio princeps: Sr. Edivin Sandys survey of religion in 
the West. Edwin Sandys (1561-1629), second son of the 
Archbishop of York, was successively pupil, friend, and 
executor of Richard Hooker. The book here alluded to is 
his ''Europae Speculum. Or, A View or Survey of the 
State of Religion in the Westerne parts of the World," 
piratically printed in 1605, first officially published in 1629, 
and much re-published and translated thereafter. 

100, 24 George Sandys' "The Relation of a Journey begun an. 
Dom. 1610, in Four Books," through Turkey, Egypt, Pales- 
tine, etc., appeared in 1615 and went through many editions. 

100, 44 "Chorography" : cf . King's "Exposition upon The Lords 
Prayer," 1634, p. 30: "This is the Psalmists method, who 
being to discourse of Sion, and make a spirituall corography 
and description of the beauty thereof," etc. So Camden's 
"Brittania: A chorographical description of Great Britain," 
etc., 2d ed., 1722. 

101,53 Marginal note in editio princeps: Job. 

101, 55 Marginal note in editio princeps: Ecclesiastes. 

101,57-62 Marginal note in editio princeps: The Act of Par- 
liament for publick Thanksgiving on the fifth of Novemb. 
set to a tune by H. Dod a tradesman of London, at the end 
of his Psalmes, ivhich stole from the Press Anno Domini 
1620. — This marginal note does not appear with the version 
of the poem prefixed to Sandys' "Paraphrase" because these 
six lines are there omitted. Possibly the MS. reading in 
line 62, "Sternholdes edition," accounts for this omission. 
The publication of King's own metrical Psalms, meanwhile, 
of course made it doubly impossible to retain this personal 
thrust in 1657; the emendation of a single word doubtless 
seemed preferable to the exclusion of six lines. 



[206] 



NOTES 



101, 63, 64, 65 Marginal notes in editio princeps: Hymns 
Lamentat. Psalmes. 



M 



The Woes of Esay. -^ 

103, 1 This piece is a free versification of Isaiah V, 8-30, 
wherein the successive paragraphs of "God's judgments for 
sin" begin with the words "Woe unto them that." 

106,66 "To": in comparison with (their own powers of 
penetration). 

106,69 "Imp": clip, cut short; applied by a misunderstanding 
of the hawking term. The Neiv Eng. Diet, cites the present 
passage as the earliest use of the word in this sense. 

106,74 "To:" like to, equal to, so great as. 

107,99 Cf. Isaiah V, 26: "x-^nd he will lift up an ensign to the 
nations from far." The apostrophe in "sign's" should be 
omitted, or a colon inserted after "advanc'd." 

On Death and a Prison. 

108,22 "By": beside, in comparison with. -kt;^ 

109,40 "Darkness": after this word an "is" may have dis- ' "^ 
appeared, by absorption. 

The Labyrinth. 

Ill, 1 Here, as in the two preceding poems and "An Elegy 
Occasioned by Sickness," particularly, Henry King owes 
much to Joshuah Sylvester. 

112,40 "At the view": in plain sight, when the quarry or goal 
is close at hand, — a hunting term. So in King's Lenten 
Sermon, 1625: "True speculation doth not alwaies hunt 
obiects at the view." 

Sic Vita. 

113, 1 This poem strikingly illustrates the "communism" pre- 
vailing in the seventeenth century, for it has been ascribed 
to several writers and its matter and manner were common 

[207] 



NOTES 



property. In the unprinted Thesis above referred to (cf. 
Preface, p. vi.), Appendix A gives fifteen other stanzas 
written on the same model by various hands, together with 
an elaborate parody and an elaborate variation, and further 
brings forward detailed evidence to establish the over- 
whelming probability of Henry King's authorship of this 
particular example (though the question can never be abso- 
lutely settled) as well as the reasonable probability of his 
priority in employing the stanzaic form involved. It seems 
likely that the source of the form and the sentiment is to be 
found in some classical author; e.g., cf. Seneca's "Troiades," 
378-399; "Oedipus," 131, 132; "Phaedra," 764-772. The 
title may well have been taken from King's favorite, 
Petronius, cap. 45 : "sic vita truditur." 

My Midnight Meditation. 

114,1 Three MSS. (in one of which the title is "Of Mans 
Misery") ascribe this piece to Henry King's next younger 
brother, Dr. John King; but five MSS. ascribe it to Henry, 
and his claim is further strengthened by the internal unlike- 
ness to his brother's known work (which is considerably 
inferior), while there are several close parallels to Henry 
King's poems and sermons and to the work of poets whom 
he frequently echoes. 

An Elegy Occasioned by Sickness. 

115, 1 The "Prophet" here referred to must be either Job 
(VII, 17; XV, 14) or the Psalmist (VIII, 4; CXLIV, 3). 

116,9 A MS. annotator in the British Museum copy of the 
1657 issue substitutes "Thebes" for "Boetis," presumably 
because he, like Henry King, was associating the Egyptian 
Thebes with the Boeotian. 

116,33 The MSS. read: "Just such is his." 

118, 90ff Manichaeism is at the root of the various heretical 
sects supporting this doctrine. 

[208] 



NOTES 



119,93,94 Posidippus' Epigram In the Greek Anthology, based 
upon Theognis, seems to be the earliest literary source of 
this sentiment; it was much translated or imitated in the 
seventeenth century. In the editio princeps, this side-note 
appears in the margin opposite these lines; Non nasci, aut 
quam c'ltissime mor'i. (Cf. Cicero's "Tusc. Disp.," I, 48, 
114). 

The Dirge. 
120,27,28 MS. reading: 

"Whilst it demonstrates Times swift flight 
In the black Lines of Shady night." 

An Elegy on Lady Stanhope. 

121, 1 This lamented lady, Anne Percy, was the daughter of 
the Countess Anne Cecil Percy, whose death is alluded to 
above (77,52-58); the younger Lady Anne, here lamented, 
was born August 12, 1633, married Philip, Lord Stanhope, 
June 21, 1652, and died November 29, 1654. The connecting 
link between Henry King and the Percys, Earls of North- 
umberland, was in part Charles I's early fondness for the 
tenth Earl (father of the subject of this elegy), but chiefly 
the fact that Petworth, in Sussex, fourteen miles from 
Chichester, was at once a rectorage of Henry King's and 
the family seat of the Percys. 

121, 5 "Hatchments": Cf. Note to 87, 8. 

122,33,34 Both the loss of a daughter (Lady Stanhope) and 
the loss of a wife (her mother; his first wife, who died 
December 6, 1637) have befallen Northumberland, and so 
his bereavement has been augmented ("improve") and his 
sorrow doubled. 

122,47 The "FINIS" indicates that this was the end of the 
original volume. In the 1657 and 1700 issues of the editio 
princeps, the next page was the blank (unpaged) side of 
the last leaf at the end of the volume, and was therefore 



[209] 



NOTES 



used for the following list of typographical errors: 
''ERRATA. Page 2. The Pink never wrote by the Author 
of these Poems. Pag. 22. I'm. 8. for she read air. Pag, 100. 
I'm. 3. for Mattox read Mattocks." Page 2 should read Page 
21. In the 1664 issue of the editio princeps this list remains 
intact on this page, though four new poems follow it on 
thirty-eight additional pages with the new page-headings 
''ELEGIES" instead of "POEMS," new signatures, and 
separate page-numbering, 1-38, — here numbered 123-156. 



An Elegy on L. K. C. 

123, 1 Hannah (p. 99) gives a fuller title for this poem, from 
a MS. version: "An Elegy on the right Ho.Rble and my 
Worthyest Freind the L: Katherine, Countesse of Leinst'r." 
This lady was the younger daughter of John, Lord Stanhope 
of Harrington (younger branch of the Stanhopes repre- 
sented by Lady Anne Percy's husband; cf. Note to 121,1), 
and wife of Robert Cholmondeley, a Welshman who was 
made a baron of England and then an earl, 1645-1646, in 
return for distinguished service to Charles I during the 
civil war. The countess died June 15 and was buried July 
3, 1657. Presumably Henry King spent some time near or 
with this couple during the period of the Usurpation, for 
the intimate tone and personal references distinguish this 
tribute very markedly from the merely formal or official 
elegies which he dedicated to Lady Anne Rich (p. 75) and 
Lady Stanhope (p. 121). 

124,32 "Rest": wager, — a very common figure of speech at 
this time ; its serious use, in the most tragic passages, is 
perhaps best illustrated by Romeo's familiar line in his 
supreme liebes-tod (V, iii, 110). 

124,35-54 This promise seems to have been kept, for no poem 
of Henry King's can be dated later than 1657, his sixty- 
sixth year. 

[210] 



NOTES 



On the Earl of Essex. 

125, 1 Robert Devereux, third and last Earl of Essex, son of 
Elizabeth's favorite, was born in 1591, became commander- 
in-chief of the Parliamentary army in 1642, and died Sep- 
tember 14, 1646, after a somewhat inglorious military 
career. Henry King's father was one of the two prelates 
who stood out manfully against Essex' scandalous divorce 
(September 25, 1613) from Frances Howard. Essex' second 
marriage, to Elizabeth Paulet in 1631, led to a separation 
on the charge of adultery. The second of the "two 
Divorces" mentioned in line 3, refers to his revolt from his 
allegiance to Charles I. 

125, 7, 8 An allusion to his opposition to Cromwell and to all 
extreme measures, in his closing years. 

126, 21 This paragraph, like the following, is in construction 
a predicate with "He" (line 13) as subject. 

126, 32 Marginal note in editio princeps: Belshazar, Dan. 5. 

126,36-38 I.e.: in keeping with their sworn agreement (regard- 
less of their oath of allegiance to Charles) to "live and die 
with Essex." This oath was exacted of all members of the 
House of Commons, August 15, 1642, by way of retaliation 
after the King had proclaimed Essex and his officers traitors, 
August 9. Cf. p. 147,286. 

An Elegy on Lucas and Lisle. 

126, 1 Lucas and Lisle were condemned by Court Martial and 
shot five hours after the surrender of Colchester, August 
28, 1643, at the end of a seventy-five days' siege. For a 
vindication of this summary execution, cf. Milton's sonnet 
"On the Lord General Fairfax, at the Siege of Colchester," 
and Clements R. Markham's "Life of the Great Lord 
Fairfax," chap, xxvii. 

127, 31ff Marginal note in the editio princeps: Sir George 
Lisle at Newbury charged in his Shirt and Routed them. 



[211] 



NOTES 



Further, the side-note Patroclus appears opposite line 49, 
p. 128. 

128, 60 The phrase "to Mercy" is the crux of the whole dispute. 
King assumes that it bore its ordinary literal sense and so 
was a pledge of safety, but this is hardly in accordance with 
military usage; its true signification would seem to have 
been, "at discretion." 

128,64 "President": Phonetic spelling of "precedent." 

128,66 Marginal note in the editio pr'inceps: Famagosta 
defended most Valiantly by Signior Bragadino in the time 
of Selymus 2d ivas upon Honourable terms surrendred to 
Mustapha the Bashaw, ivho observing no Conditions, at his 
Tent Murthered the Principal Commanders, invited thither 
under shevj of Love, and flayed Bragadine Alive. 

130, 105 Marginal note in editio princeps: The Swedes hired 
Anno 164. to invade the King of Denmark, provided to 
assist his Nephe<w the King of England. (The date is 
imperfect in all copies of the editio princeps, apparently.) 

130, 115 Matthew Hopkins inaugurated the new profession of 
witch-seeking in 1644; after he had caused the death of 
scores of helpless old men and women, his own method or 
test was applied to himself (i.e., he was cast into a pond, 
with thumbs and great toes tied together), and when he 
"swam" or floated he was adjudged guilty and hanged, in 
1647. 

130, 117 "Cad": the New Eng. Diet, quotes this line as the first 
use of the word; meaning, "familiar spirit"; etymology 
unknown. 

130, 122 The executive power of government was vested by 
Parliament, February, 1644, in a Committee of Both King- 
doms, which first sat at Derby House, in Canon Row, 
London. The Westminster Assembly, 1644, superseded the 
Episcopal Church as the Committee superseded Charles. 

132, 160 Marginal note in editio princeps: See the Letter sent 
to Edward Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of 



[212] 



NOTES 



Peers pro tempore, from T. Fairfax, Dated August 29. 
1648. at Hieth. (This letter with other related papers may 
be found in "Collection of Pamphlets Anno 1648," articles 
35, 24, 18, etc. [British Museum, shelf-number E 461]. On 
the showing of these documents, the execution of Lucas and 
Lisle is open to no such criticism as King urges against it.) 

132, 170 Marginal note in editio princeps: Wat-Tyler and his 
Complices design n.vas to take aivay the King and chief 
Men, and to erect petty Tyrannies to themselves in every 
Shire. And already one Littistar a Dyar had taken upon 
Him in Norfolk the Name of King of Commons, and 
Robert Westborn in Suffolk, Rich. 2. Anno 1381. Speed. 

132, 183 Marginal note in editio princeps: At St. Pagans in 
Glamorganshire near Cardiff, The Welsh unarmed ivere 
taken in very great Numbers, and Sold for t^uelve pence a 
piece to certain Merchants, ivho bought them for Slaves to 
their Plantation. 

133,188 "Aspers": small silver Turkish coins, worth 1-120 of 
a piastre. 

133,194 "Argiers": Cf. Tempest, I, ii, 309, and Furness' cita- 
tion of Collier's note: "The name for Algiers till about the 
Restoration." 

133,201 Marginal note in editio princeps: Grimes noiv a 
Captain, formerly a Tinker at St. Albans, nvith his ovon 
hand Killed four of the Prisoners, being not able for Faint- 
ness to go on with the rest, of which number Lieutenant 
Woodward was one: Likewise at Thame, and at Whateley, 
some others were Kill'd. 

136,284 "Caput Algol": the star known as Medusa's Head, in 
the constellation Perseus; the word Algol is apparently the 
Arabic equivalent of Medusa, al-ghul, the ghoul or female 
demon. King's use of the word would seem to antedate 
the earliest example (1649) given in the New Eng. Diet. 

136, 295ff Marginal note in editio princeps: I Kings 2.32. vers. 



[213] 



NOTES 



An Elegy on King Charles I. 

137, 1 King's "Anniversary Sermon," 1665, is simply a prose 
version of this poem, as if expanded from the same notes, 
and may profitably be consulted throughout. 

137,12 This line lacks one syllable, metrically; perhaps the 
word "our" was accidentally omitted before "eyes." 

138,32 "Bosome interest": cf. Macbeth, I, ii, 38. King's 
"Inauguration Sermon," 1640, furnishes a further com- 
mentary upon this poem; for this catalogue of Charles' 
virtues, cf. pp. 54-56. 

139, 51, 52 Marginal note in editio princeps: — Sparguntur in 
omnes, In te inista fluunt Claudian. 

139, 53-56 'O frail glories, which feel tempests force you to 
relinquish your firmest foundation (i.e., innocence and real 
worth) ! What shall save you, since innocence cannot?' 

139,61 From here onwards to p. 153, I. 476, the members of 

the Long Parliament are the persons addressed and attacked 

in this poem. 
139, 63 Marginal note in editio princeps: Call'd the Councel of 

Troubles. 
139,73 Marginal note in editio princeps: The form of taking 

the Co'venant, June 1643. 

140, 98 Marginal note in editio princeps: Diodorus Siculus 

lib. 2. 
141, 119 Marginal note in editio princeps: Remonstrance of the 

State of the Kingdom, Dec. 15. 1641. 

141, 130ff Marginal notes in editio princeps: Ord. Feb. 29. 
Voted March 15. The Na^y seiz'd Mar. 28. 1642. The 
London Tumults. Jan. 10. 1641. 

142, 142 Read, "Mouths" and "maintain." 

142, 151 The closing of the Theatres, September 2, 1642. 
142,159 "Stale": bait, decoy, stalking-horse. 

[214] 



NOTES 



143, 172 Marginal note in editio princeps: At 'Bzsmg-Chapel 

Sold Dec. 29. 1643. 
143, 175 Marginal note in editio princeps: At Winchester. 
143, 181 Marginal note in editio princeps: Lactant. L.2.C.4. 
143, 185 Marginal note in editio princeps: Julian. Praefectus 

AEgypti. Theodoret. L.3.C.11. (The same reference is 

indicated in line 189 by the marginal note, ibid.) 
143,191 "His death present": Christ's dying gift or legacy to 

humanity (i.e., the bread and wine of the Eucharist). 

143, 192 Marginal note in editio princeps: Ganguin. L.6. 
144, 197 Sir Arthur Haselrig, Waller's second in command, 

was guilty of special outrages in the sacking of Chichester 
Cathedral, Chapter House, and Episcopal Palace, December 
29, 1642, and following days. Cf. "Sussex Arch. Coll.," 
1881, xxxi, 205-208. 

144,200 Marginal note in editio princeps: The Carpet belong- 
ing to the Communion Table of Winchester Cathedral, Dec. 
18, 1642. 

144,205 Marginal note in editio princeps: Adrian Emp. 

144, 221ff Marginal note in editio princeps: At Winchcomb in 
Gloucestershire. — -The outrages mentioned in these lines are 
described (with parallels too close for mere coincidence, 
apparently) in a strange composition running to seventy- 
five pages of inferior heroic couplets, entitled "The Four 

Ages of England: or, The Iron Age Written in the 

Year 1648," sometimes ascribed to Cowley. 

145, 224 Cf. 2 Kings X, 18-28. One of the two points of punc- 
tuation before "a Draught" should be omitted, and perhaps 
a dash inserted. 

145, 230 A reference to the baptism and surname of Con- 
stantine V, Emperor of the East 741-775, son of Leo HI, the 
Iconoclast. 

145,235 "Your": apostrophizing the members of the Long 
Parliament again. 



[215] 



NOTES 



145,241 Marginal note in editio princeps: Whitehall, Windsor. 
Feb. 3. 1643. 

145, 246 Bel was among Assyrians and Babylonians about 

what Baal was among the Canaanites. 
146,274,275 Marginal notes in editio princeps: E. of Essex 

Army, Aug. 1. 1642. The Standard at Notingham, Aug. 

25. 1642. 
147,283 Marginal note in editio princeps: June 27. 1643. 
147,286 Cf. Note on 126, 36-38, sup. The marginal note here, 

in the editio princeps, makes the same reference: Declara- 
tion and Resolution of Pari. Aug. 15. 1642. 
147,293 "Trains": wiles, lures, plots, stratagems. 
147,301-302 Marginal note in editio princeps: History of 

English and Scotish Presbytery, p. 320. 
148,313-314 Milton has, of course, given this idea its definitive 

form in the last line of his piece '*0n the New Forcers of 

Conscience under the Long Parliament": "New Presbyter 

is but old Priest writ large." 
148,320 Marginal note in editio princeps: The 19 Propos. 

(Enunciated in May, 1642). 
148,333-335 Marginal notes In editio princeps: April 27. 1646. 

May 5. 1646. 

149.350 Quibble intended on the legal and ethical senses of 
the word "Liberty." 

149.351 Marginal note in editio princeps: This Order pub- 
lish' d by beat of Drum, May 4. 1646. 

150,389-390 Cf. Marvell's "Horatian Ode upon Cromwell's 

Return from Ireland," stanzas 12-14. 
150,392 "Lieger-Hangman": resident executioner. 
150, 402ff Marginal notes in editio princeps: Jan. 3. 1647. 

Jan. 9. 1647. 
151,405-414 Apparently, these lines are two complex temporal 

clauses ("when that Cloud remov'd" and "when the King- 



[216] 



NOTES 



dom cry'd") dating the action described in the imperative 
main clause, lines 415-420. The interrogation point at the 
end of 414 should be replaced by a colon and dash. 

151,408 Marginal note in editio princeps: Colchester Siege. 
(Cf. preceding elegy.) 

151,413ff Marginal note in editio princeps: June 30. 1648. 
Treaty Voted, July 28. 1648. 

151,429-432 The Army shut the King up at Hurst Castle and 
then at Windsor; and "shut out" the undesirable element 
in Parliament by means of Pride's Purge, December 6, 1648. 

151.432 "Hand-wolves": trained wolves, brought up by hand. 

152.433 "You and They": the Long Parliament and the Army. 
152,445 Cf. 161,71-75. 

152,457-458 Double quibble: clew=trace, and thread; Ravel= 
examine into, and unwind. 

153,485-486 Cf. 2 Chron. XXXV, 24, 25— the text of King's 
"Anniversary Sermon," 1665. 

153,490-506 These lines are an important testimony to the 
current belief in the roya! authorship of "Eikon Basilike," 
for they are dated within six weeks of the execution. In 
his "Anniversary Sermon," 1665, Henry King reaffirms his 
faith, by implication at least, and indulges in a spiteful 
fling at the blind Milton for his "Iconoclastes." See repro- 
duction, facing p. 152, sup. 

154,520 Cf. 2 Kings IX, 31. 

155 The sense of this chronogram is obvious (i.e., "Charles 
Stuart, King of England, departed this life on the 30th of 
January, murdered with an axe."), and the date is easily 
read if the letters in large type are printed alone, in proper 
order: MCCCCCLLXVVVVVVIIIIIIII,=1648. One of the 
two chronograms on the "Table" by Bishop John King's 
grave (cf. note on 86,5-8, sup.) is this: seqVentVr qVI 
nonDVM praeCessere, i.e., "Those who have not already 
gone before, shall follow"; by taking out and rearranging 



[217] 



NOTES 



the letters in larger type, we arrive at the date of John 
King's death, MDCVVVVI,=1621. Addison, in a paper on 
"False Wit," Spectator No. 60, May 9, 1711, sufficiently 
ridicules such laborious trifling. 

[This chronogram served as colophon for the 1664 issue of 
the editio princeps. The remaining poems in the present 
volume (except for the four epigrams which Hannah printed 
in his selection) have not hitherto been included in any 
edition of Henry King's work.] 

A Deepe Groane, etc. — {Second Elegy on Charles I). 

157 This title-page is taken from the Bodleian copy (shelf- 
number, Wood 364.29) of the first issue; the "D.H.K." in 
this copy is thus filled out in early MS.: "Dr. Hen. King 
Bp of Chich." A similar MS. ascription appears in three of 
the four copies (representing all three issues of the piece, 
the second printing being ascribed to LB. and the third 
being anonymous, but all appearing in the same year, 1649) 
collated for the text of the present edition. The proof of 
King's authorship (accepted by Lowndes, Hazlitt, and 
other bibliographers) depends upon Wood's attribution 
("Athen. Oxon.," HI, 841), upon the early MS. ascriptions, 
and upon the internal evidence of style and of parallelism 
with King's Sermons and his acknowledged poems. This 
elegy is certainly inferior to the preceding, in power and 
poetry, but the change in point of view or purpose might 
explain this; for the preceding is devoted to a fiery attack 
on Parliament with an impassioned lament for desecrated 
ecclesiastlcism and fallen monarchy, while the present effu- 
sion is devoted to King Charles personally and so falls into 
the 'conventional extravagances which disfigure pp. 76, 78, 
79, 137, 138, etc., sup., as well as King's Sermons on similar 
subjects. 

The text of the present edition is that of the second or 
"LB." version (Bodleian; Pamphlets. 88. 1649. L), while 
the variants recorded in these Notes are drawn from the 



[218] 



NOTES 



two other printings. Variant readings that are obviously 

inferior have been omitted. 
159,21 Marginal note in original text: Caligula. 
160,34 "Gashing": variant reading, "gasping." 
160, 53 Francis Ravaillac assassinated Henry IV, of France, in 

1610. 
160, 54 John Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie, led the conspiracy 

against James VI, of Scotland, in 1600. 
160,57 "Apochyphall": variant reading, "Apocryphall." 
161,73 "Bedlane": variant reading, "Bedlam." 
161,77 "Scepture the Head": variant reading, "Scepter; th' 

Head." 

162.98 "The Red Sea?": variant reading, "this." 

162.99 "Deading": variant reading, "leading." But King 
uses "dead" as a transitive verb on p. 33 of his Funeral 
Sermon for Duppa, 1662. 

162, 114 The two syllables missing here, metrically, are 
supplied by the variant reading: "stabs at Higher Majestie." 

163,128 "But how much": variant reading, "By how much." 

163,134 "A plague-sore, blayne": variant reading, "A plague- 
sore-blast." But "blain," meaning "inflammation" or 
"pustule," makes perfect sense here. 

163,139 "Commence": the technical term for taking a Univer- 
sity degree. 

163, 146 Thy whole life has been one long execution. 

164,154-156 Cf. Marlowe's "Tamburlaine," Part One, IV, ii, 
et seq. 

164, 155 The syllable missing here, metrically, is supplied by 
the variant reading: "might yet have layne." 

164, 157 It is entirely possible that King intended a specific 
reference here (e.g., to one of the Episodes recounted by 
Diodorus Siculus, XX, 44, or Justin, XVIII, 3); but more 
probably he used "Sidonian" as a general term of reproach 



[219] 



NOTES 



to stigmatize the religious foes of Israel. Cf. Gen. X, 15; 
Matt. XI, 21, 22. 

164.168 "World, proud conquest": variant reading, "Worlds 
proud." 

164.169 "Keepst": variant reading, "kept'st." 

164.170 Perhaps an allusion to the frontispiece or "Embleme" 
accompanying the original edition of "Eikon Basilike." 

164, 173 Marginal note in the variant versions: Cynegirus. 
164,176 "The": variant reading, "Thy." 

165,. 179 Marginal note in original text: Horatius. Codes. 
165,192 "Souls": variant reading, "Soule." 

165, 199-200 Charles refused to live at the price of sacrificing 
his people; i.e., he died rather than surrender his people's 
right to be ruled by him. The next four lines illustrate this 
ultra-royalist view. 

165,201 Marginal note in original text: Codrus. 

166,211 "Art least": the variant reading, "at least," goes only 
half way; we should preferably read, "at last." 

166,214 "Nephews": descendants, successors, or here perhaps 
posterity in general. 

166,215-216 The parenthesis should not close till the end of 
line 216, obviously; the variant reading supplies this emen- 
dation. 

166,216 Allusion to the wording of the formal death-sentence 
pronounced against Charles. 

166,218 Olibanum was an aromatic gum used for incense. 

167,237-242 This is a free version of lines 75-81 in Buchanan's 
"Genethliacon Jacobi Sexti Regis Scotorum," a birthday ode 
on the nativity of James, in 1566. The variant versions of 
King's elegy supply improved readings here: we should 
read henigna for benigni (17), Principe majus for principe 
major (18), and sui for sin (22). 

[220] 



NOTES 



167,243 George Buchanan (1506-1582), tutor of James VI of 
Scotland, is frequently inveighed against in King's Sermons; 
he wrote "De Jure Regni," which became almost the Bible 
of the Long Parliament on account of its defence of limited 
monarchy and tyrannicide. 

Epigrams. 

168, 169 These Epigrams are reprinted from Hannah's edition, 
after his text had been collated with the versions included 
in the Malone MS. volume of King's poems. He refers the 
first motto, from Petronius, to *'c. 14" ; the second, from 
Martial, to "I. 14"; and the third, from Petronius, to "c. 
83." The fourth, which he apparently could not identify, is 
assigned to Terentianus Maurus, "De Literis, Syllabis, et 
Metris," 1286, in Harbottle's "Diet. Clas. Quot." 1897, p. 
78. 

On J. K., first-born of H. K. 

173,1 The text is taken from Rawl. MS. D. 317, fol. 175, 
collated with the copy in Harl. MS. 6917, ff. 96v., 97. Both 
versions are signed, the first with Henry King's monogram, 
the second with his initials; the first codex is almost entirely 
given up to Oxford people and affairs of this particular 
period, while the second is chiefly devoted to Henry King's 
own work; and furthermore the Rawl. version is in Henry 
King's autograph, as diligent comparison with his five 
signed letters proves. So the external evidence seems to 
establish King's authorship satisfactorily, and is decisively 
corroborated by the internal evidence of style and subject- 
matter. "J. K." was, of course, Henry King's eldest child, 
John, who died in infancy, 1618-1619. 

173,11 "Bating": fluttering; taking flight. 

To One that Demanded, etc. 

174, 1 Taken from Malone MS. vol., fol. 24. Plainly an earlier 
version of the piece printed on pp. 41, 42, sup. 

[221] 



NOTES 



To a Lady, etc. 

174, 1 Taken from Malone MS. vol., fol. 34. Plainly an earlier 
version of the piece printed on pp. 26, 27, sup. 

Epigram. 

174, 1 Taken from Malone MS. vol., fol. 31v. King dealt 
with this subject at greater length in his Paradox, "That 
Fruition destroyes Love," p. 69, sup. The motto is assigned 
to "Satyricon, Cap. 15," in Harbottle's "Diet. Clas. Quot.," 
1897, p. 166. 

A Contemplation upon Floivers. 

177, 1 This beautiful little poem is taken from Harl. MS. 
6917, fol. 105v. It is there signed "H: Kinge:", and the 
whole codex is largely given up to Henry King's work, 
family, and affairs. On the strength of this single MS. 
attribution. Professor E. Arber printed the poem as King's 
in his "Milton Anthology," 1899, p. 98 (and Note, p. 301, 
ibid.) ; and on the basis of Arber's authority plus "internal 
evidence, — style, thought, cadence, etc.," Sir Arthur Quiller- 
Couch assigned the poem to King in his "Oxford Book of 
English Verse," 1900, p. 286. The subjective test, of internal 
evidence, is particularly unsatisfactory in this period, and 
a single MS. commonplace-book attribution is hardly con- 
clusive ; so, in spite of King's employment of almost the 
same metre in "The Double Rock," p. 13, sup., it has seemed 
safest to print this piece among the Doubtful Poems. 

177,14 "Take truce": have respite, have a temporary inter- 
mission from pain or struggle. 

The Complaint, and On his Shaddonv. 

178-181 "On his Shaddow" fills ff. 173, 173v., 174, and 174v.-, of 
Rawl. MS. D. 317. On fol. 175 appears the elegy "Upon 
ye untimely death of J. K. first borne of H. K.," as described 

[222] 



NOTES 



in the Note to p. 173, sup. Ff. 175v., 176, 176v., are blank, 
the last two being uncut. These eight pages or four leaves 
are really a single large piece of paper folded twice. "The 
Complaint," on fol. 161, Rawl. MS. D. 317, is written on a 
separate sheet of the same kind of paper, followed by an 
extra blank leaf, unnumbered. All three poems are in 
Henry King's autograph. **The Complaint" and "On his 
Shaddow" are unsigned, and hence are tentatively cata- 
logued in the Bodleian as "Quo. by H. King?" In manner 
and matter they might well be fruits of his younger days, 
and their inclusion (also unsigned) in Harl. MS. 6917, ff. 
97-98v., establishes a further ground for associating them 
with Henry King. However, in default of positive proof 
they are placed among the Doubtful Poems. The text here 
given is that of the Rawl. MS. 

178.8 "Careles Boy": Cupid. 

178.9 "Convey'd": substituted. 

179.10 "Were borrow": Harl. MS. reading, "we borrow." 
179,23 "Harbourd'st": Harl. MS. reading, "harbourst." 
180,55 Harl. MS. reading: "Earth could not match." 

181, 71, 72 To win fame, one must fall on the field of honour. 

Wishes to my Son John, etc. 

181, 1 This poem appears (unsigned) on ff. lOlv., 102, in 
Harl. MS. 6917. If one of two details be emended, this 
piece may be unhesitatingly assigned to King: we should 
read either "Jan. 1, 1622 (or 3, or 4)" so as to bring the 
date within Anne Berkeley King's lifetime, or else "such 
as ivas thy Sires," at line 41, p. 182. With either of these 
alterations, the internal evidence would establish King's 
authorship beyond question. The other alternative is the 
hypothesis that this poem is correct and authentic as it 
stands, and that the reference in 182,41, concerns his 
second wife, not Anne Berkeley. The whole passage, 182, 



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NOTES 



40-46, certainly suggests the unromantic, utilitarian kind 
of marriage which may be inferred from the poems on pp. 
33-35, sup. In this case, "The Anniverse," p. 55, sup., must 
have been written only a very short time before the second 
wedding; but, of course, "1630" in the title of the present 
poem really means "1631." When the references to facts 
in King's life, and the parallels to his known works, are 
considered, it will be felt that this piece has been dealt 
with very conservatively in being placed among the 
Doubtful Poems. 

182, 15if These pious wishes were but ill requited by John 
King's amour in 1646 at Aldbury, Surrey. (Cf. "Transac- 
tions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences," 
XVIII, 241.) 

182,19-21 These lines should read as follows: 

"May a pure soule inhabite still 
This well-mixt clay, and a streight will: 
This act by Reason, that by Grace." 

I.e., the Will may act by (human) Reason, but the Soul 
requires (divine) Grace for the proper guidance of its 
action. 

182, 24, 26 Ellipsis of "may," in each line. 

182,28 This line strengthens the argument for Henry King's 
authorship; for unless this be the familiar pun on the 
family name (cf. Note on 86,13,14, sup.), there is no 
meaning in wishing that the boy may be a "priest" as well 
as a "Kinge." The next three lines, also, are strikingly 
applicable to Henry King's life. 

182,39 "Line": cf. Psalm XIX, 4, and Isaiah XXVIII, 10, 13. 

182,40-46 Cf. 100,25-32, sup. For discussion of the question 
of Henry King's second marriage, cf. the present writer's 
article in the "Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of 
Arts and Sciences," Yale University Press, 1913, XVIII, pp. 
238-239. 285-286. 



[224] 



NOTES 



183,47,48 "Gowne-men": lawyers. In his Will (Hannah, 
cxi), King mentions "a thousand pounds, which by a long 
and chargeable suite I recovered from Nicholas Arnold 
Esquire upon a Judgment att common law." 

Elegus: on Dr. Spenser. 

183,1 Taken from Rawl. MS. D. 912, fol. 305v.; the Latin 
"Elegvs," of which this is a translation, occupies fol. 305, 
and the poem thus fills both sides of a single large foolscap 
sheet. The Latin original is in King's autograph, and 
bears this signature: ''Maerens posuit Hen: Kinge ex Aede 
Chri:" The English translation is inferior to the Latin, is 
in a different hand, employs a metre not found elsewhere 
in Henry King's poetry, and omits the closing distich 
(which is too neat to be ignored: 

''Solus enim patitur genuinos iste dolores, 

Quique tacendo dolet, quique dolendo tacet"). 

The case for King's authorship rests upon the many emen- 
dations and changes (in both Latin and English MSS.) 
which would hardly have been made by any one but the 
acknowledged author. Spenser, a friend of Bishop John 
King, died April 3, 1614. 



[It is perhaps fitting for the present editor to record here his 
conviction that the first four of these "Doubtful Poems" were 
written by Henry King, in all human probability, while the 
fifth probably was not. There remain four pieces wherein the 
chances of King's authorship are so slight as hardly to justify 
their inclusion in full in this edition, though brief mention 
must be accorded them: 

(1) In Malone MS. 21, ff. 7-8v., there appears "An Elegy 
upon ye Kg of Swedens Death (1632)," 114 lines, signed "Dr. 
Hen: King," This elegy was printed (unsigned) in the supple- 
ment to "The Swedish Intelligencer" (cf. Note to 89,1, sup.), 

[225] 



NOTES 



where it stands third from the end. It is very unlikely that 
Henry King would have printed two elegies on this subject 
(cf. pp. 89-93, sup.) in the same publication, the first with and 
the second without his signature. 

(2) In Harl. MS. 3910, fol. 28v., and Rawl. MS. Misc. 699, 
p. 35, King's "An Elegy Upon S. W. R." (pp. 84, 85, sup.) has 
affixed to it seven octosyllabic couplets on the same subject. 
Hannah ("Courtly Poets," 1870, xxix) does not claim these 
lines for King; and in the MSS. they are ascribed to "W. R." 
or "A. B.," but never to "H. K." 

(3) A 48-line effusion, entitled "Doctor King his Farewell 
to the world," appears in Egert. MS. 2725, ff. 61, 61v., and in 
Harl. MS. 6057, fol. 14; but several other MSS. ascribe the piece 
to Sir Kenelm Digby, and it has also been assigned to Ralegh, 
Wotton, and Donne. In E. K. Chambers' "Muses' Library" 
ed, of Donne, 1896, II, 273, this piece is printed with the last 
stanza of King's "The Farewell" (p. 16, 19-24, sup.) incorpo- 
rated as conclusion. Both Hannah ("Courtly Poets," 1870, 109) 
and Chambers confess the impossibility of assigning the piece 
definitely to any author, and certainly King's claim is by no 
means the strongest. 

(4) Hannah, in his edition of King's poems (p. 102), prints in 
square brackets a twelve-line elegy which he found, without 
title or signature, at the close of his MS. volume of King's 
poetry. It immediately follows King's authentic elegy on the 
Countess of Leinster (123-125, sup.), but is so different from 
that in tone as to need considerably more evidence than at 
present exists before it can be accepted as even probably Henry 
King's work.] 



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